COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE PROXIMATE AND MICRO-NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF PAWPAW, CARROT, TURMERIC AND COCONUT

Abstract

Natural products are essential components in the human diet providing vital micronutrients such as vitamins (A, B, C, E) and minerals (calcium, potassium, sodium etc.) that are essential for proper growth and development as well as playing other roles in normal body function or metabolism. The aim of this study is to evaluate the proximate and micronutrient composition of some selected plant samples: pawpaw, carrot, turmeric and coconut. Results obtained show that carrot has the highest moisture content of 84.1%, pawpaw has the highest fiber content of 23.8%, crude protein content of 12.8% and ash content of 9.6%. Coconuts have the highest fat content of 43.0% and the highest carbohydrate content was recorded in turmeric (68.59%). The highest vitamin C content was recorded in pawpaw (60.3 mg), while coconut has the highest zinc (8.0 mg), copper (4.2 mg) and iron (21.3 mg) content. Carrots have the highest sodium content of 84.0 mg. These fruits are cheap and rich in several micronutrients hence consuming them often will help reduce micronutrient malnutrition. They can also be processed into various forms domestically and on industrial scale for juices, soups, etc, and can also be used to complement other foods to improve both nutrient and sensory attributes.