Abstract
The nutrient composition of a flour prepared from three genera of dried aquatic insects (Chironomidae, Chaoborus, and Povilla) harvested from the islands and shores of Lake Victoria, Uganda, was determined. The insect flour contained 67 g/100 g crude protein, 6.7 g/100 g crude fiber, 9.8 g/100 g moisture, 4.2 g/100 g fat and 11.6 g/100 g ash. This flour was an excellent source of phosphorus (1.1 g/100 g), zinc (13.1 mg/100 g), iron (1.3 g/100 g), and magnesium (169 mg/100 g) and had a potassium (997 mg/100 g) to sodium (390 mg/100 g) ratio of 2.6:1.0. A 100-g portion of the insect flour would provide over 100% of the FAO recommended intake of nutrients for niacin (26 mg), thiamin (1.6 mg), and riboflavin (8.0 mg) based on a 65 kg moderately active adult male. An amino acid profile revealed cysteine to be the limiting amino acid. The estimated in vitro digestibility of the protein from the insect flour was 91% with a discriminant computed protein efficiency ratio (DC-PER) of 2.1.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
