Comparative Evaluation of the Proximate, Mineral and Vitamin Contents of Palm Kernel (E. Guineensis) and Deleb Palm (B. Aethiopum) Nuts

Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the relative vitamins, minerals and proximate compositions of Palm kernel and Deleb palm nuts. The proximate parameters (crude fibre, crude protein, crude fat, ash and moisture) were determined using standard analytical procedures. The minerals (Fe, Zn, Mg and Ca) were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (ICE 3000 series) while K and Na were analyzed using Flame Photometer (model 405, corning, U.K). The vitamins (A, B2, and D) were determined using UV spectrophotometer while vitamin C was determined using titrimetric method. The results revealed higher percent crude fibre (12.81%), crude protein (13.13%), crude fat (44.09%), ash (3.05%), moisture (7.05%) energy (2192.33kcal/ 100 g) and fatty acid contents (35.27% ) in Palm kernel nut while only carbohydrate was found to be higher in Deleb palm nut (81.71%). The concentrations of vitamin A, B2 and D were found to be higher in Palm kernel nut while only vitamin C was found to be higher in Deleb palm nut (1.22± 0.06). The minerals composition revealed that calcium (27.79 ± 0.83 mg/100 g), magnesium (19.36 ± 1.22 mg/ 100 g), zinc (0.68± 0.12) and iron (3.35± 0.01 mg/100 g) contents in Palm kernel nut were higher than in Deleb palm nut while only the concentration of potassium (74.75 ± 0.61 mg/100 g) was found to be higher in Deleb palm nut. However, based on the results obtained from this study, the nutritional value of palm kernel nut was found to be higher than that of deleb palm nut and both samples could be used as good sources of some nutrients in a died.