article · Sahel Journal of Life Sciences FUDMA
This study evaluated the protein quality and haematological safety of complementary food blends made from malted and fermented maize supplemented with soybean and orange-fleshed sweet potato flours. Researchers developed four composite formulations and tested them alongside an unfortified maize control and a commercial infant cereal over a 28-day feeding trial in albino rats. Growth metrics and blood markers associated with liver and kidney function were monitored to assess nutritional suitability and safety. Rats fed the commercial control achieved the highest weight gain and protein efficiency ratio, while the unfortified maize performed lowest across these performance metrics. Across all tested groups, blood parameters including packed cell volume, red and white blood cell counts, and haemoglobin levels remained within normal ranges. The evaluated food blends showed no signs of organ impairment, indicating their potential suitability as nutritious complementary diets.
Developing nutritious, locally sourced complementary foods is vital for addressing infant and child malnutrition. Testing composite blends of maize, soybean, and orange-fleshed sweet potato in animal models provides crucial evidence on whether such formulations can support healthy growth and maintain normal blood and organ health without toxic side effects.
This research could inform the formulation of affordable, fortified complementary foods and infant cereals by food manufacturers or public health nutrition programmes. The findings reflect early-stage in vivo testing in animal models. Extensive clinical trials in target human populations, processing standardisation, and sensory evaluations would be necessary before these formulations can advance to commercial production.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
This study investigated the protein quality and haematological profile in rats fed malted and fermented maize-based complementary food supplemented with soybean and orange-fleshed sweet potato composite flours. Flours were prepared from malted and germinated maize grains and supplemented with soybeans and orange-fleshed sweet potato flour as the complementary foods. The combination of the flours was obtained by material balancing. Four food formulations were obtained and named NMSS, FMSS, MFMSS, and MMSS, NM(control) and Nestle Cerelac (commercial control). Twenty-four Wistar strain of albino rats were grouped into six groups of four rats per cage and were fed the formulated blends and control. The rats were fed for 28 days. Weight changes and haematological parameters of the kidney and liver were examined to assess the suitability of these formulated diets. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. The results of the total weight gain ranged between 230.67 and 32.67 g in Cerelac and NM, respectively. PER ranges from 2.47 (cerelac) – 0.45 (NM), and FCE ranges from 15.04 (NM) – 2.62 (cerelac). The haematological parameters analysis revealed that PCV ranges between 40.67 (FMSS) and 33.67 % (Cerelac), RBC ranges from 5.50 to 4.60 X103mm3, HGB ranges from 12.22 to 11.00 g/dl, WBC ranges from 5.93 to 5.13 X103mm3, Lymphocytes ranges from 35.67 to 34.33 %, Neutrophil ranges from 58.00 to 56.00 % and Eosinophil ranges from 3.00 to 2.33 %. The results showed that the formulated blends did not impair any significant organ of the rats, as indicated by the haematological studies.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.33003/sajols-2025-0302-40
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
