Assessment of Some Minerals and Proximate CompositionOf Selected Vegetables Grown Around GwaigwayeDam in Katsina State, Nigeria

This study evaluated the mineral and proximate composition of cabbage, lettuce, and Moringa oleifera cultivated near Gwaigwaye Dam to assess their nutritional value and safety for human consumption. Mineral concentrations of calcium, potassium, iron, and zinc were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, while proximate parameters including protein, fiber, ‎lipid, ash, carbohydrate, and moisture were analyzed following standard AOAC procedures. Mineral contents (mg/100 g) ranged from 198.00–245.90 for calcium and potassium, 17.66–26.50 for iron, and 1.32–2.10 for zinc. The Ca: K ratios varied from 0.84 in cabbage to 1.00 in Moringa oleifera, indicating a balanced calcium–potassium relationship, while Fe: Zn ratios ranged from 9.75 in lettuce to 20.08 in Moringa, showing a predominance of iron relative to ‎zinc. Proximate composition (%) ranged from 7.40–17.44 for protein, 17.43–32.88 for fiber, 4.90–5.30 for lipid, 4.42–10.46 for ash, 21.10–43.40 for carbohydrate, and 2.70–9.00 for moisture. The results demonstrate that the vegetables are nutrient-dense, with variations ‎among samples that were statistically significant (p > 0.05). Favorable Ca: K ratios might ‎support bone health, cardiovascular regulation, and electrolyte balance, whereas elevatedFe: Zn ratios suggest the need for dietary strategies to enhance zinc bioavailability‎.