QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Morales, E. Articles by Graham, G. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Morales, E. Articles by Graham, G. G.

Effect of Amounts Consumed on the Digestion of Cassava by Young Children¹

Instituto de Investigacion Nutricional, Miraflores (Lima), Peru

To determine whether increasing proportions of cassava could be consumed and satisfactorily digested, eight recovering malnourished children (20–38 mo old) received 25, 50 and 75% of their diet energy as freeze-dried cassava flour during 9-d periods, with intervening casein control diets. Enough casein was added to all cassava diets to bring protein energy to 8% of the total. When compared to the control diet, the 25% diet had no significant effect on consumption time or measures of protein and energy digestion. With the 50% diet, fecal wet and dry weights were moderately higher than with the 25% diet (196 ± 44 and 24 ± 4 vs. 121 ± 36 and 16 ± 3 g/d, respectively), as were fecal energy (89 ± 16 vs. 63 ± 16 kcal/d) and calculated carbohydrate (11 ± 2 vs. 5 ± 1 g/d); apparent nitrogen absorption (mostly from casein) was slightly lower (79 ± 5 vs. 83 ± 6%) and consumption time slightly higher (5–25, median 10, vs. 4–18, median 6 min/feeding). When energy from cassava was increased to 75%, fecal weights (240 ± 49 and 31 ± 5 g/d), energy (124 ± 27 kcal/d) and carbohydrate (16 ± 4 g/d) were all higher than when cassava provided 50 or 25% of energy. Consumption required 8–34, median 17 min/feeding and apparent nitrogen absorption was 76 ± 6% of intake. Assuming proper detoxification, appropriate protein supplementation and no untoward effects on micronutrient absorption, 25% of energy in the diets of young children can be supplied with impunity as cassava flour, 50% with modest energy and nitrogen wastage and 75% with moderately lower energy and apparent protein digestibilities but greater consumption times.

KEY WORDS: • cassava flour • digestibility • young children

¹ This study was supported by a grant from the Program in Science and Technology Cooperation, Office of the Science Advisor, Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of State.

Manuscript received 14 October 1986. Revision accepted 21 August 1987.