Comparative evaluation of weaning foods from Glyricidia and Leucaena leaf protein concentrates and some commercial brands in Nigeria

Abstract

Three studies were conducted to evaluate the nutritive potential of Glyricidia leaf protein concentrate (GLPC) and Leucaena leaf protein concentrate (LLPC) in infant weaning foods. The first two trials evaluated 10 laboratory-formulated weaning foods, in which soybean meal (SBM) was replaced at levels of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% with either GLPC or LLPC, and subsequently compared them nutritionally with three commercial weaning foods (coded CFB, CFC and CFN) currently on sale in Nigeria in a 28 day feeding trial using weanling albino rats. Thereafter the best GLPC-and LLPC-based weaning foods, in terms of animal performance consistent with low cost of the foods (designated GL50 and LL25 respectively), were compared with the best commercial weaning food (CFB) in a 14 day rehabilitative potential trial using rats that had previously been protein depleted. In the first trial the final weight was highest in rats fed the 50% GLPC-based food (159.8 ± 9.5 g) and lowest in rats fed CFN (114.7 ± 9.7 g), while the feed efficiency was best in rats fed the 50% GLPC-based food and CFC and worst in rats fed the 100% GLPC-based food and CFN. The nitrogen retention (NR) did not differ significantly (P ≥ 0.05), while the apparent nitrogen digestibility (AND) and 'operative' protein efficiency ratio (PER) decreased with increasing level of replacement of SBM with GLPC (R 2 = 0.61, P ≤ 0.05 and R 2 = 0.67, P ≤ 0.05 respectively). In the second trial the highest weight gain was observed in rats fed the 25% LLPC-based food (3.4 ± 0.5 g day −1 ). Feed consumption was not significantly (P ≥ 0.05) influenced by dietary treatment, but rats fed the laboratory-formulated diets containing 0 and 25% LLPC utilised their food more efficiently (3.0 ± 0.4/0.2 respectively) than rats fed the other diets, including the commercial foods. While NR did not differ significantly (P ≥ 0.05), there was a decrease in AND and PER with increasing level of SBM replacement with LLPC (R 2 = 0.96, P ≤ 0.01 and R 2 = 0.89, P ≤ 0.05 respectively). Among all the organs weighed in the first two trials, only the relative weight of the lungs was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected. Neither the haematological variables nor the serum metabolites were significantly influenced by dietary treatment, except for the packed cell volume of rats fed the LLPC-based foods. The economics of food production showed that all the laboratory-formulated foods were cheaper than the commercial foods, with the 50% SBM + 50% GLPC (GL50) and 75% SBM + 25% LLPC (LL25) formulae proving to be the most nutritious. On rehabilitation, rats fed LL25 recovered lost weight faster than those fed GL50, followed by rats fed the best commercial diet (CFB), while the whole-body and liver protein contents were identical. The incorporation of LPC/SBM mixtures into local food formulae is suggested as a valid intervention strategy for tackling the endemic protein under-nutrition, especially among vulnerable groups, in sub-Saharan Africa.

Chemical composition and functional properties of leaf protein concentrates of Amaranthus hybridus and Telfairia occidentalis

“…The apparent differences in the amino acid composition might be due to the use of leaves of differing age and antecedents, or different processing techniques, as from real species differences (Pirie, 1979). Feeding experiments with chickens, mice, pigs and rats showed that LPC was safe and nutritionally useful (Pirie, 1979;Aletor, 2003 and2004). Four human trials have been published.…”

Effect of Alchornea cordifolia leaf meal inclusion and enzyme supplementation on performance and digestibility of rabbits

“…leaf meals) in place of the relatively expensive conventional feeds for feeding monogastric animals is becoming popular in the tropics. This is primarily due to the erratic supply and high cost of conventional feedstuffs and secondarily because of rapid plant growth when water is available and the relatively low cost of these leaf meals, which are mainly from tropical legumes and browse plants (Agbede and Aletor, 2003). Therefore, leaf meals are included in livestock feed to offset the high cost of conventional protein sources and improve profit margin (Nodu et al, 2014).…”

Functional Properties and Nutritional Quality of Some Wild and Edible Bean in Nigeria

“…Water absorption, holding or binding capacity (WAC) may be defined as ability of food material to hold its own and added water during application of forces and heating. Water absorption is due to its dipolar nature so that proteins with more charged amino acids tend to absorb more water than proteins with uncharged amino acids [9] [32]. Low water absorption capacity Feregede compared to others may be attributed to decreased charge on its protein.…”

“…They are also explored more in the developed countries as ingredients primarily to provide a variety of functional properties, including desirable structure, texture, flavour, and colour characteristics in formulated food products [6] [7]. They are widely used in high protein foods including dairy foods, nutritional supplements, meat systems, infant formulas, nutritional beverages, cream soups, sauces and snacks and also as a protein source in milk replacers [8] [9]. In this respect, the edible bean types appear to be the most explored among the beans.…”