Nutritional Analysis of the Three Commonly Consumed Varieties of Benni Seeds (Sesame Seeds) in Plateau State, Nigeria

This study analyzed the nutritional composition of three varieties of Benni seeds (white, large black, and small black) from Plateau State, Nigeria. The proximate analysis of the samples was determined using methods described by the Association of Analytical Chemists (2018). Proximate analysis revealed no significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in ash, crude fibre, crude protein, lipids, and moisture content among the varieties, but a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in carbohydrate content. White Benni seeds had the highest crude fibre (32.37±0.04), large black seeds the highest carbohydrate (3.21±0.02) and lipid (34.02±0.02), and small black seeds the highest moisture (5.40±0.03), crude protein (31.10±0.23), and ash (7.80±0.02). Mineral analysis showed calcium and phosphorus in all samples, with significant variation (p ≤ 0.05) in calcium, but not phosphorus. All three varieties were low in mineral content.