Nutritional and Health Effects of Grasshopper-Enriched Sprouted Soybean/Millet-Based Complementary Food: A Study on Gut Health Markers in Rats

This study aimed to develop and assess the effects of sprouted soybean/millet-based complementary food on gut health markers in rats. Four diets were formulated: sprouted millet (CFB), sprouted soybean (CFC), sprouted soybean/millet (CFD), and grasshopper-enriched sprouted soybean/millet (CFE). Proximate analysis was conducted using AOAC methods. Twenty-five Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups, with one serving as the control (fed animal feed) and the others fed the formulated diets for four weeks. At the end of the experiment, serum and stool samples were collected to measure serum carotenoids and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) to evaluate gut health effects. Results of proximate composition were significantly higher (p<0.05) in percentage ash, fat and protein content in grasshopper enriched diet, 6.36, 17.21, 24.22%, respectively than the other groups (3.38, 4.25, 4.68 and 5.67% for ash, 10.70, 12.50, 14.25 and 15.86% for crude fat, 18.34, 19.60, 22.27 and 22.86% for crude protein) respectively. Crude fiber was significantly (p<0.05) elevated in the grasshopper-enriched diet: 5.10% than the other groups (3.13%, 4.88%, 4.89% and 4.99%) respectively. Carbohydrate composition was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the control group: Moisture content was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the grasshopper-enriched diet than other formulation (17.53, 24.60, 23.54 and 25.54%) respectively. Short-chain fatty acid concentrations (acetate, butyrate, and propionate) were significantly (p<0.05) elevated in the grasshopper-enriched diet (68.73, 7.65 and 5.43 µmo/L) than the other groups (50.86, 62.60, 56.21 and 63.65µmo/L for acetate, 2.86 ,4.66, 2.98 and 6.32µmo/L for butyrate, 1.48, 2.98, 1.97 and 4.21µmo/L for propionate) respectively. In contrast, faecal protein and serum carotenoid concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the grasshopper-enriched diet (0.04 µmo/L and 0.33 µmo/L), respectively compared to the other groups (0.02, 0.03, 0.02 and 0.02 µmo/L for faecal protein, 0.41, 0.13, 0.37 and 0.17 µmo/L for carotenoids respectively. Based on the finding of this study, the grasshopper-enriched sprouted soybean/millet-based diet provide beneficial effect to host on both nutrition and health.