Nutritional composition of fortified finger millet (Eleusine coracana) flours fortified with vitamin B2 and zinc oxide
Shonisani Eugenia Ramashia, Eastonce T. Gwata, Stephen Meddows‐Taylor, Tonna A. Anyasi, Afam I. O. Jideani
Abstract
Fortification is the process of adding minerals and vitamins that have been lost during flour processing to improve the nutritional composition and reduce micronutrient deficiencies. The study was conducted to determine the nutritional composition of Finger millet (FM) flours fortified with vitamin B2 and zinc oxide (ZnO). The milky cream (MC), brown, black and pearl millet (PM) flours were used as reference samples. Flours were completely randomized in three replicates. Determination of the physicochemical properties, vitamin B complex, macro and trace minerals concentration were conducted for flour and reference samples. The moisture of brown instant fortified finger millet (IFFM) flour was significantly (p < 0.05) higher for MC and black IFFM flours as compared to other flours. The MC raw finger millet (RFM) flour had a significantly (p < 0.05) highest amount of Zn, 2.64±0.01 mg/100 g when compared to other flours. The MC flour showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher values for vitamin B2 in both RFFM and IFFM flours when compared to other flours. MC flours may be preferred by the consumers due to its semblance to the maize white flour. The anticipation of the study was to produce and characterise FM flour fortified with vitamin B2 and ZnO that may be utilised for value-added products.