Nutrient composition, organoleptic attributes and overall acceptability of plantain cake were evaluated. Plantain fingers in stages 2 (URP) and 5 of ripeness (RP) used in this study were washed, peeled, sliced into small pieces, sun-dried for five days and milled separately into flour. Commercial wheat flour (WF 100) served as the control. Each sample was sieved and analyzed for functional properties and nutrients and combined in different proportions. The wheat flour (WF) was substituted by plantain flour (URP and RP) at 25, 50 and 75% for cake making, respectively. The combinations derived were 25%URP and 75%W (URP 25 W 75), 50%URP and 50%W (URP 50 W 50), 75%URP and 25%W (URP 75 W 25), 25%RP and 75%W (RP 25 W 75), 50%RP and 50%W (RP 50 W 50), 75%RP and 25%W (RP 75 W 25). Each combination was used in baking cake. The proximate composition and sensory evaluation of the cakes were determined. The URP flour had the least protein content (2.73%) while WF 100 had the highest (3.04%). The RP had the lowest fat (0.30%) and highest ash (2.33%) contents. The URP flour had more foaming stability/capacity and emulsion capacity but less oil absorption capacity and least gelation concentration than RP flour. The W 100 cake had 26.41% protein followed by the RP 25 W 75 (23.99%) and URP 25 W 75 (23.91%) cakes. The URP 25 W 75 cake had significantly (p<0.05) more fibre and fat contents (9.44 and 12.32%, respectively) than the rest of the samples. Vitamin B 2 (mg/100 g) in URP 50 W 50, (2.29) RP 25 W 75 (2.05) RP 50 W 50 (2.05) and W 100 (2.09) cakes were comparable. All the cake samples had similar folate and calcium contents. There were differences in iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc contents of the cakes. The URP 50 W 50 was rated best plantain-based cake in terms of texture (7.80) and acceptability (7.82). This study forms a basis for new product development for the biscuit food industry.

Background Hidden hunger (micronutrient deficiencies) among adolescents are linked to impaired physical growth, poor cognitive function, low resistance to infection as well as degenerative and chronic diseases at later age. To prevent these deleterious impacts of hidden hunger, effective intervention strategy that improves nutrition knowledge and promotes healthy food choices among this age-group becomes imperative. The intervention was to evaluate the impact of a 14-page locally developed nutrition education aids on the teenagers’ knowledge of the functions, food sources and deficiencies of some micronutrients and their food choices. Methods A one group pre-and post-intervention quasi-experimental study design was conducted with 869 adolescents (13–17 years) selected using multi-stage sampling technique in public secondary schools in a suburb of Nigeria. Using the instructional material development guidelines, the nutrition education aids were developed with nutrition facts, pictures of staple micronutrients-rich foods, and computer graphics. Baseline (pre-intervention) knowledge of nutrition and practice of food choices in relation to micronutrients were determined before exposing the students to the developed nutrition education aids and reassessing (post-intervention) them after 6 months. Data obtained were subjected to paired samples t-test using SPSS version 21. Results The adolescents were mostly females (58.92%) aged 16–17 years (53.62%). There was significantly (p < 0.05) higher mean knowledge scores of general nutrition (65.77 vs. 39.61%) and food sources of nutrients (82.26 vs. 66.87%) at post-intervention compared to pre-intervention. Also, the mean knowledge of functions and deficiencies of vitamin C, folic acid, iron, calcium, and zinc were significantly (p < 0.05) higher at post-intervention than at pre-intervention. The study further revealed percentage increase in the proportion of respondents who consumed meat (27.72%), mango (128.20%), watermelon (152.29%), carrot (336.34%) and leafy vegetables (85.56%) daily after the intervention. In addition, the percentage of students who rarely consumed all the studied micronutrient-rich foods decreased after the intervention. Conclusion The intervention strategy increased the nutrition knowledge and the consumption of some micronutrients-rich food sources among the adolescents. The developed nutrition education aids are recommended for use in the fight to reduce/eradicate hidden hunger among adolescents in Nigeria.

Household food security exists when members at all times have physical and economic access to adequate, safe, acceptable and nutritious foods to meet their daily requirements and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Preservation of post-harvest surpluses makes local staples available and affordable during off season. In Nigeria, food insecurity at the household level can partly be attributed to poor preservation of post-harvest surpluses. This study sought to demonstrate a relationship (if any) between preservation of post harvest surpluses and food security at rural household level. Eha-Alumona and Opi-Uno, in Nsukka, Enugu State were the two rural communities selected because they have farming as their major occupation. Interviews and questionnaires were used to elicit information on socioeconomic characteristics, foods preserved and methods, problems encountered and effect of preservation on food security of two hundred households. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and results presented as frequencies and percentages. About 42% of households partly produced and partly purchased foods, while 17% depended solely on family food production. Most households (90%) preserved foods mainly by sun-drying cereal, legumes, vegetables and roots/tubers. All the households (100%) stored palm oil in bottles or jars while 87.5% smoked meat/fish. Sun-dried foods were perceived wholesome until used by 61.5% households. About 62% households consumed their preserved foods, 19% sold, while 19.4% consumed part and sold part. Sixty-four percent (64%) were food-secure which they attributed to preservation of post-harvest surpluses. However, 36% did not have enough because of spoilage and rodent/ insect attack. Hunger at rural household level can be reduced if post harvest surpluses are properly preserved. The Nigerian local government should encourage community food preservation through cooperative societies, provision of necessary infrastructure, funding and education.

Objectives Diabetes is a chronic health problem, of public health concerned with preventable consequences, affecting people of all ages, race and ethnicity not only in Nigeria, but all over the world. Prevalence of hyperglycemia, high blood pressure, overweight and obesity among diabetic adults (19 - 64 years) in Owerri municipality, Imo state, Nigeria. Methods A cross sectional study design was employed. Three hundred (300) diabetic adults whom have been screened previously and diagnosed as diabetic were randomly selected from three hospitals in Owerri municipal council, Imo state, Nigeria and whose consent were obtained to participate in the study. Biochemical test such as fasting and random blood glucose screening, blood pressure measurement and anthropometric measurement were taken and a structured and validated questionnaire was administered to the subjects to obtain data. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using statistical product for service solution (SPSS) version 22. Results Result: Results show that more than half (60.7%) of the diabetic adults aged 36 to 55 years, 54.5% were male, 45.7% were females. Majority (91.7%) of the diabetic adults had hyperglycemia, 92.0% had high blood pressure, 41.5% had overweight and 27.1% were obese. Prevalence of hyperglycemia increased exponentially with increase in age of diabetic adults (X2 = 12.603; P = 0.050) and significantly (X2 = 45.975; P < 0.001) increased among overweight and obese diabetic adults. There were significant association between increased in age of adult diabetic with high prevalence of overweight and obesity (X2 = 20.564; P = 0.015) and increased in high blood pressure (X2 = 26.747; P = 0.002). Conclusions In conclusion this study shows high prevalence of hyperglycemia, high blood pressure, overweight/obesity among diabetic adults. There were significant association between increased in age (middle to older adults), overweight/obesity, hyperglycemia and high blood pressure of diabetic adults in the study area. Funding Sources Self funded by the author.

cfu/g for 0 and 60 days, respectively. The differences between the values of the parameters of the formulations were significant (p<0.05) especially from day 14. Yeast and coliform were not detected in all the samples but mold was detected from days 14 to 60. The formulation D 70 S 30 had best shelf life; however, the samples should be consumed within 14 days of production.