Nitrogen and mineral utilization of young children fed blends of fermented or unfermented corn (Zea mays L.) African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocavpa) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

The nutritive quality of blends of fermented or unfermented corn (C), African yam bean (AYB) and cowpea (CP) were evaluated in ten children 5.2 ± 0.5 years old. The blends were made of 70% corn and 30% (protein basis) of either AYB or CP. These blends provided a total of 3.9 g nitrogen (N) daily to the children for 24‐day study period. The fermented diets had higher N balance (p < 0.05). The mineral balances were influenced by fermentation with the unfermented AYB mixture producing negative phosphorus balance. The results indicate that the fermented diets had nutritional superiority over the unfermented diets.

Key words:

• Children
• nutritive quality
• fermentation
• cowpea
• African yam bean
• corn