Nutritional Characteristics of Orange Flesh Sweet Potato, Sprouted African Locust Bean Seed and Wheat Flour Based Doughnut Pastry and Its Effect on the Biochemical Profile of Albino Rats

The study evaluated the nutritional profile and effect of orange flesh sweet potato-African locust beans seed-wheat flour on the biochemical profile of Wister albino rats. Standard methods were used in raw materials preparation and analyses. Experimental samples were formulated from orange flesh sweet potato, sprouted African locust beans seed and wheat flour based on the following ratios: 100:0:0, 65:5:30, 60:10:30, 55:15:30 and 50:20:30 respectively. A total of 25 male Wister albino rats were randomly divided in 5 groups and were daily fed with formulated and control diet for twenty-one (21) days. After which blood samples were collected for clinical nutrition analyses after the feeding period. The inclusion of sprouted locust beans seed and wheat flour in orange fleshed sweet potato improved the nutritional profile as indicated by increase in protein (6.32-12.31%), ash (1.99-2.48%) and fat (22.85-28.30%). The moisture (6.86-8.05) and fibre (2.55-3.08%) also increased while carbohydrate (45.75-61.98) decreased. The study showed increase in all the minerals (Iron, Zinc, Potassium, Calcium and magnesium) analyzed. The inclusion of sprouted African locust beans seed and wheat flour in orange flesh sweet potato resulted to increase in feed consumption (29.23-51.44g) and weight gain (10.06-14.44g). Sprouted African locust beans and wheat flour inclusion in orange flesh sweet potato had significant effect on the serum and lipid profile of experimental rats fed with the flour diet. Serum total protein (7.13-7.89 g/dL), Albumin (4.56-5.01g/dL), globulin (2.35-2.99g/dL) and High-density lipoprotein (39.99-45.21 mg/100g) increased while Total cholesterol (72.40-82.88 mg/dL) triglycerides (58.21-66.65mg/dL) and low-density lipoprotein (20.37-25.21mg/dL) decreased. The study showed that all the lipid profile parameters were within the acceptable range. The study established that the inclusion of sprouted African locust beans seed and wheat flour inclusion in orange flesh sweet potato can improve the nutritional profile of orange fleshed sweet potato without negative effect on health.