Protein Quality and Haematological Profile of Rats (Albino) Fed with Malted and Fermented Maize Based Complementary Food Supplemented with Soybean and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Flour

This study investigated the protein quality and haematological profile in rats fed malted and fermented maize-based complementary food supplemented with soybean and orange-fleshed sweet potato composite flours. Flours were prepared from malted and germinated maize grains and supplemented with soybeans and orange-fleshed sweet potato flour as the complementary foods. The combination of the flours was obtained by material balancing. Four food formulations were obtained and named NMSS, FMSS, MFMSS, and MMSS, NM(control) and Nestle Cerelac (commercial control). Twenty-four Wistar strain of albino rats were grouped into six groups of four rats per cage and were fed the formulated blends and control. The rats were fed for 28 days. Weight changes and haematological parameters of the kidney and liver were examined to assess the suitability of these formulated diets. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. The results of the total weight gain ranged between 230.67 and 32.67 g in Cerelac and NM, respectively. PER ranges from 2.47 (cerelac) – 0.45 (NM), and FCE ranges from 15.04 (NM) – 2.62 (cerelac). The haematological parameters analysis revealed that PCV ranges between 40.67 (FMSS) and 33.67 % (Cerelac), RBC ranges from 5.50 to 4.60 X103mm3, HGB ranges from 12.22 to 11.00 g/dl, WBC ranges from 5.93 to 5.13 X103mm3, Lymphocytes ranges from 35.67 to 34.33 %, Neutrophil ranges from 58.00 to 56.00 % and Eosinophil ranges from 3.00 to 2.33 %. The results showed that the formulated blends did not impair any significant organ of the rats, as indicated by the haematological studies.