Nutritional Evaluation and Chemical Analysis of Two Commercial Infant Foods in South-Western, Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to nutritionally assess and compare two selected formulas such as maize-legume based infant formula (MLBIF) and maize-milk based infant formula (MMBIF) Dietary samples consisted of (1) Basal, diet (2) maize-legume based infant formula (MLBIF) (3) The maize-milk based infant formula (MMBIF) complementary diets. They were both obtained at a local supermarket, Ile-Ife, South-West, Nigeria. Thirty (30) albino rats were then reweighed and grouped into three groups of ten each. The result showed that the growth rate, (non protein diet) declined from 35.962 -30.910, two formulas (protein diet) increased from, 35.636 to 82.521 and 35.90 to 79.570 diets 1 2, 3, respectively. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) for diets1 2, 3 were nil, 3.12 and 2.90 respectively. Net protein ratio (NPR) were nil 2.78 and 2.56 for diets1 2, and 3, respectively. Protein retention efficiency (PRE = NPRX16) were nil, 44.50 and 41.07 respectively. The average nitrogen retained in various organs of experimental animals, such as liver, kidney and muscle of the diets 1, 2, 3 were 33.52, 43.60, 45.80; 56.76, 50.63, 58.70; 55.22, 51.38 and 56.08 respectively. The was MLBIF found superior compared to maize based infant formula (MMBIF) in terms of growth rate, protein efficiency ratio (PER), net protein ratio (NPR), protein retention efficiency (PRE) and ensure optimum nitrogen content in the liver, kidney and tissues. These findings showed that the MLBIF infant formula is cheaper in the market than infant MMBIF formula, and could be affordable by less privileged and may be used in alternative, where infant reacts to milk based dietary.