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The rheological behavior and functional properties of doughs from bambarawheat composite flour was investigated. Bambara-wheat composite flour was prepared by substituting wheat with 0%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of bambara flour. The rheological behavior of their dough was analyzed with Mixolab. Breads produced from the flour were analyzed for physical characteristics. Organoleptic analysis was carried out by 20 panelists. Mixolab analysis revealed, except for stability time, depreciating values for dough consistency (C1), protein weakening (C2), starch gelatinization (C3), amylase activity (C4), and retrogradation (C5) as the inclusion of bambara flour increased. Physical characteristics of the loaves revealed significant (P < 0.05) decreasing bread volume and increasing specific volume, respectively, as bambara inclusion increased. There was significant (P < 0.05) difference between wheat bread and the bambara-wheat composites in all the studied quality attributes. 15% bambara-wheat composite bread was the most accepted amongst the composite breads. Inclusion of bambara flour improved the protein behavior of the composite, but did not evidently show benefits in the baking characteristics.

The comparative hypocholesteremic effect of feeding palm oil and palm oil mill effluent (POME) was investigated in male albino rats. Diets were prepared and designed to contain 50% of energy as carbohydrate, 35% as fat, and 15% as protein. Groups of six rats were each fed one of these diets, while a group was fed pelletized mouse chow which served as the control. Feeding on palm oil and POME led to a significant increase (p < 0.05) in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and vLDL. Feeding on POME led to significant increase (p < 0.05) in cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL levels in brain tissues. Increased hepatic LDL level was also observed in POME fed rats. Except for hepatic triglyceride and tissues HDL level, a rather reduced level of the studied lipids was observed in the serum and tissues of palm oil fed rats compared to POME. These results indicate the protective potentials of palm oil against cardiovascular disease, as well as hyperlipidemia that characterize obesity and hypertension; as compared to its effluent.

Studies have provided evidence of the hypoglycemic properties of fiber-containing foods compared to fiber-free foods. In this study, the hypoglycemic properties and beneficial effects of fiber-enriched cake in alloxaninduced diabetic rats were reported. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan. Fiberenriched cake was produced from selected fruits and fed to the treatment group. The rats were monitored daily for food intake, and body weight. Their blood glucose levels were monitored on weekly basis. Treatment lasted for 14 days, after which the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture and centrifuged to obtain serum which was analyzed to evaluate serum insulin level. Histological study was carried out on the pancreatic tissues. There was no significant difference in diet intake and body weight among the experimental groups. Feeding on the formulated cake led to 68.75 % reduction of the blood glucose level compared to the diabetic group.Significant increase (p \ 0.05) in serum insulin level was observed in the cake-fed group. Feeding on the formulated cake led to restoration of pancreatic b-cells. The fiberenriched cake had a therapeutic protective effect against diabetes which can serve as a functional food in the treatment and management of the disease.

Different carbohydrate foods produce different glycemic responses even with little or no difference in macronutrient composition. Cassava constitutes one of the major staples in Nigeria. Four blends of cassava-wheat bread samples with 0, 10, 15, and 20% cassava flour inclusion were fed individually to groups of healthy human volunteers. Subjects were studied on separate occasions in the morning after a 10-12-hr overnight fast. Blood glucose responses were measured at intervals of 30 min over a period of 2 hr. Glucose was used as a reference food. There were normal glucose responses to the bread samples studied. Increase in cassava incorporation led to less significant glycemic responses. The glycemic index values ranged from 91-94. Results from this study indicate that the inclusion of cassava flour in bread production might not pose a threat to blood glucose response of individuals.