Nutrient composition of commonly consumed edible insects in the Lango sub-region of northern Uganda.

Akullo, J.; Agea, J. G.; Obaa, B. B.; Okwee-Acai, J.; Nakimbugwe, D.

The study aimed at nutritional characterization of commonly consumed insects in Langosub region, northern Uganda. Proximate composition, mineral and fatty acid profile of Syntermes soldiers, Macrotermes bellicosus and Brachytrupes spp were determined using standard analytical methods. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed and means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at 5% (P=0.05). Nutrient contents of Syntermes soldiers, Macrotermes bellicosus and Brachytrupes spp were: 64.72, 40.72, 65.35% protein; 4.99, 44.84, 11.76% fat; 23.03, 8.38, 16.87% dietary fibre and; 4.19, 5.69, 4.88% ash, respectively. Energy content was 502.86, 696.10, 536.42 kcal/100 g while protein digestibility was 31.39, 44.39, 50.22%, respectively. Essential minerals were abundant with 897.15, 676.96, 877.26 mg/100 g potassium; 32.50, 42.71, 33.60 mg/100 g iron and; 17.64, 16.90, 23.02 mg/100 g zinc, respectively. Levels of essential fatty acids were appreciable with: 16.74, 8.92, and 22.14% Linoleic acid and 2.88, 0.63, and 2.55% Linolenic acid, respectively. Oleic acid was the most abundant at 37.64, 47.73 and 38.27%. While the ratio of total polyunsaturated fatty acid to total saturated fatty acids were; 1.32, 0.24, and 0.71 respectively. Consumption of these insects could contribute to the dietary intakes of the essential nutrients.

UGANDA; EDIBLE insects; NUTRITIONAL value; MACROTERMES; PROTEIN content of food

International Food Research Journal, 2018, Vol 25, Issue 1, p159

1985-4668

Academic Journal