Protein Quality Evaluation and Haematological Parameters of Rats Fed Compmementary Diets Prepared from Pearl Millets (Penniselum glaucum), Groundnut (Arachis hypogeae) and Moringa oleifera
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Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine protein quality and hematological parameters of complementary diets prepared from Millet, Groundnut and Moringa oleifera by feeding albino rats. A basal diet (Nitrogenfree) was formulated along with four different 10% protein diets and cerelac as control. The 30 weanling rats used in the experiment were divided into 6 groups of 5 rats each, and each group was allotted to the different diets. The Biological value (70.74 - 78.29%), true protein digestibility (65.03-66.03%), protein efficiency ratios (2.79 -3.94) and and Protein retention efficiency (70.88-79.52) of formulated complementary diets were found to be significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to Ogi (BV=17.64%, TPD=14.78%, PER=1.52, PRE =22.88), but, these values were found to be lower than Cerelac values (BV= 81.71%, TPD=70.6%, PER=4.50, PRE= 63.68). The result showed that the hematological parameters(packed cell volume, red blood cells and hemoglobin) of rats fed the formulated diets were within the normal range. The result for erythrocytes sedimentation rate (ESR), monocytes, basophils, mean cell heamoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean cell heamoglobin (MCH) and mean cell volume (MCV), showed there were no significant difference observed between the values of animals fed with the formulated diets and control food samples (ogi or Cerlac) (p<0.05). The weight gained by the organs (heart, liver, spleen and kidney) of animals fed with the experimental complementary food samples were observed to be significantly higher than those animals placed on ogi, but found to be lower than those rats fed with Cerelac (p<0.05). In the overall, the rats fed with formulated diets showed good growth and development, with no adverse biochemical or hematological effect and therefore maybe used as an ideal weaning food to improve the nutritional status of children.