EVALUATION OF NUTRITIVE AND ANTI-NUTRIENT CONTENTS OF COMPOSITE MEAL FROM Sorghum bicolor (SORGHUM), Glycine max (SOYA BEANS) AND Sesame (BENNI SEEDS)

Abstract

Composite meal is a meal made up of different classes of food such as carbohydrate, protein,
lipids, which can be used for the management of Protein and Energy Malnutrition (PEM). The
study evaluates the nutritive and anti-nutritive contents of composite meals produced from
Sorghum, Soya beans and Benni seeds. The materials (sorghum, soya beans and benni seeds)
used were purchased from Maiduguri Monday Market, Borno State, Nigeria. They were
subjected to standard processing methods. The study investigated the proximate composition and
antinutritional factors of the samples. Two different ratios used, were 60% and 50% sorghum,
40% and 30% soya beans and 20% benni seeds. The results of the proximate analysis revealed
that there were significant (p<0.05) increases in protein, fat and fibre contents of the composite
meal particularly, the 50:30:20 ratios; sorghum, soya beans and benni seeds respectively. The
results of the anti-nutrient analysis showed a significant (p< 0.05) reduction in tannin and phytic
acid in the composite meal. Based on the results obtained, the composite meal from sorghum,
soya beans and benni seeds had a high nutritional value and can be used to ameliorate protein
energy malnutrition.