Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency is a major public health problem in developing countries, specifically Ghana. The high beta-carotene content of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) may help alleviate vitamin A deficiency because beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A when consumed. It is hypothesized that complementary food formulated with OFSP, rice, soybean and cowpea or peanut would contain >50% of the estimated average requirement (EAR) of vitamin A for infants 6 to 12 months of age. Three different blend formulations (OFSP Rice-1, OFSP Rice-2 and OFSP Rice-3) were prepared. OFSP Rice-1 was prepared with 50% rice, 30% OFSP and 20% soybeans flours as control; OFSP Rice-2 was prepared with 45% rice, 30% OFSP, 20% cowpea flours and 5% vegetable oil; and OFSP Rice-3 was prepared with 55% rice, 20% OFSP, 20% soybeans flours and 5% peanuts. Each formulation was evaluated for its nutritional quality, sensory characteristics and pasting properties using standard AOAC methods, a 9-point hedonic scale, and Brabender viscoamylograph, respectively. All three formulations met >50% EAR for energy (386.2 to 391.8 kcal/100 g), protein (10.4 to 16.9 g/100 g), carbohydrates (68.4 to 72.2 g/100 g), iron (3.6 to 7.6 mg/100 g) and beta-carotene (2112 to 7879 µg/100 g). OFSP-Rice2 had a significantly higher concentration of beta-carotene (7879.20 µg/100 g). OFSP-Rice3 had the highest acceptability score of 8.0, highest peak viscosity (41.5 BU), highest viscosity after holding (37.0 BU), and the highest final viscosity (53.5 BU). Rice with 20 or 30% OFSP may provide >50% EAR of vitamin A for infants 6 to 12 months of age. This may provide an acceptable vitamin A rich food that could help alleviate vitamin A deficiency in Ghana.

Key words: Complementary food, orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP), vitamin A, broken rice.