Chemical Composition and Molar Ratio of Minerals in Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato/Soybean Complementary Food Enriched with Crayfish

This study evaluated the vitamin, mineral, anti-nutrient contents, and molar ratio of minerals of orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP)/Soybean complementary food enriched with crayfish. The diets had vitamin A and C contents (280.92 – 314.36 µg/g) and (12.91-15.25 mg/100 g) lower than the recommended levels so also the mineral contents calcium (25.39-81.50 mg/100 g), iron (0.88-0.98 mg/100 g) and zinc (0.26-0.28 mg/100 g). The levels of anti-nutrients 0.09-0.33 Tiu/g for trypsin inhibitor, 0.14 – 0.20 mg/100 g for tannin, 0.15-0.21 mg/100 g for alkaloids, and 0.11-0.17 mg/100 g for phytate in the diets were low. Plant foods are poor sources of minerals. Dehulling and peeling remove those ones in the peels and seed coats. Soaking, steaming, and blanching contributed to the low levels of anti-nutrients. The low phytate contents accounted for the very low molar ratios of the minerals: calcium (0.00011-0.00032), iron (0.0126 – 0.0143), and zinc (0.05-0.053). The very low anti-nutrient contents and molar ratios of the diets are an indication of the high bioavailability of the nutrients.