Efficacy of Compositing with Snail Meat Powder on Protein Nutritional Quality of Sorghum-Wheat Buns using a Rat Bioassay.

Protein Energy Malnutrition is an important health burden in most developing countries mainly in sub-Saharan Africa where it contributes to high rates of child morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated the efficacy of compositing with snail meat powder on protein nutritional quality of sorghum-wheat buns using a rat bioassay. Nine diets, including seven isonitrogenous diets based on six variation of buns and a reference diet made using skimmed milk powder in addition to the basal diet meant to estimate the endogenous nitrogen excretion and a 16% protein rehabilitation diet were fed to male weanling albino rats. Protein and food efficiency ratios, net protein retention ratio, apparent and true protein digestibility, protein digestibility corrected amino acid score and digestible indispensable amino acid score indices of protein quality were determined.Fortification with snail meat powder significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced protein efficiency ratio from 0.21 to 2.70%, food efficiency ratio from 0.02 to 0.27%, apparent protein digestibility from 81.17 to 88.28% and true protein digestibility from 87.48 to 95.38%. Protein digestibility corrected amino acid score and digestible indispensable amino acid score increased from 45% to 78% and 44% to 69% respectively in unfortified buns to buns fortified with 25% snail meat powder.Complementary diets fortified with snail meat powder promote growth and rehabilitate emaciated rats while unfortified diet did not support weight gain. Thus, supplementation of buns with snail meat powder might enhance a faster recovery in children affected by protein energy malnutrition. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.