Iron, zinc and calcium dialyzability from extruded product based on whole grain amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus and Amaranthus cruentus) and amaranth/Zea mays blends

Abstract

Amaranth is a Native American grain appreciated for its high nutritional properties including high mineral content. The aim of this study was to evaluate the availability of Fe, Zn and Ca from extruded products made with two varieties of amaranth and their mixtures with maize at two levels of replacement. Mineral availability was estimated using dialyzability method. The contents of Fe (64.0–84.0 mg/kg), Ca (1977.5–2348.8 mg/kg) and Zn (30.0–32.1 mg/kg) were higher in amaranth than in maize products (6.2, 19.1, 9.7 mg/kg, respectively). Mineral availability was in the range of (2.0–3.6%), (3.3–11.1%) and (1.6–11.4%) for Fe, Ca and Zn, respectively. Extruded amaranth and amaranth/maize products provide higher amount of Fe and Ca than extruded maize. Extruded amaranth products and amaranth addition to maize could be an interesting way to increase nutritional value of extruded products.

Keywords::

• amaranth
• iron
• calcium
• zinc
• dialyzability
• extrusion

Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by PICT 1105 Project. The authors thank Roberto Torres and Mario De Greef for technical support.

Declaration of interest : The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.