Abstract
Evaluation of the quality of complementary flour and its nutritional adequacy in relation to infant’s nutritional requirements was done to four different types of complementary flour (composite cereals with groundnuts, maize, millet and sorghum). The collected samples were analysed for determination of macronutrient, micronutrients and phytate content. The mean protein content in all types of complementary flour was 7.30 ± 2.52 g/100 g. A significant difference in protein content between composite cereals (p ≤ 0.001) and other types of cereals-based foods was observed. Fat and iron content were found to be inadequate in all types of complementary flours. Phytate content ranged from 59.47 - 1176.8 mg/100 g, the highest content was observed in sorghum. On the other hand, the mean iron and zinc content in all types of complementary flour was 5.25 ± 1.35 mg/100 g and 2.99 ± 1.36 mg/100 g respectively. The molar ratios of phytate:iron and phytate:zinc were at a level that would tend to inhibit bioavailability of iron and zinc in 97% and 45% of analysed samples respectively. An association between anaemia and phytate:iron molar ratio (AOR = 4.2, 95%, 1.2 - 6.9) was observed. The quality and adequacy of nutrients in cereal-based complementary flour has shown to be inadequate and likely to be compromised by the presence of phytate.
Highlights
In developing countries, malnutrition is still a serious health problem affecting infants and young children (Ahmed, Hossain, & Sanin, 2013; Black et al, 2013; Steiber et al, 2015)
The composite complementary flours were formulated by using different types of cereals ranging from 2-7 types groundnuts was the main ingredient
The Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) of fat for infants and young children was not attained by all types of complementary foods fed to infants
Summary
Malnutrition is still a serious health problem affecting infants and young children (Ahmed, Hossain, & Sanin, 2013; Black et al, 2013; Steiber et al, 2015). And in sub Saharan Africa, 26% and 40%, of children below five years of age are stunted (UNICEF, 2013). In Tanzania, 34.4% of children below five years are stunted and 13.7% are underweight (NBS, 2015). Though causes of malnutrition are diverse and interrelated, inadequate dietary intake during the complementary feeding period is considered to be major contributing factor (UNICEF, 2013). Cereals and legumes constitute a major portion in formulation of complementary foods, it might be difficult to attain nutritional adequacy for children due to dietary related factors (Okomo et al, 2016). Nutritional deficiency, diseases and disability are considered to be a risk factor of inadequate dietary intake (Kumssa et al, 2015; Muthayya et al, 2013)
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