A compositional study of Moringa stenopetala leaves.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate nutrient composition in moringa leaves and compare with those of kale (Brassica carinata) and Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris). DESIGN: Laboratory based study, nutrient composition of fresh and cooked leaves of M. stenopetala were analyzed. SETTING: Gama-Gofa, south-western Ethiopia. RESULTS: Raw M. stenopetala leaves contain 9% dry matter as crude protein, about 3-fold lower than in kale and swiss chard. M. stenopetala leaves contain higher percentage of carbohydrate, crude fiber and calcium compared to both raw and cooked kale and swiss chard. Vitamins are present at nutritionally significant levels averaging 28 mg/100g of vitamin C and 160 microg/100g of beta-carotene. Minerals such as potassium, iron, zinc, phosphorus and calcium also exist in significant concentrations with the average values of 3.08 mg/100g iron and 792.8 mg/100g calcium. CONCLUSION: Although the nutrient composition of M. stenopetala leaves in most cases is lower compared to kale and swiss chard they can be a good source of nutrients in dry season potentially when other vegetables are scarce. However, the presence of small amount of cyanogenic glucosides in M. stenopetala leaves may have a health risk in areas of high incidence of endemic goitre as an exacerbating factor if consumed more for a long period of time.

Screening of aflatoxins in Shiro and ground red pepper in Addis Ababa.

Aflatoxin contamination of Shiro and ground red pepper samples collected from government owned good stores, retail shops and open markets in. Addis Ababa was investigated. From sixty samples each of ground red pepper and Shiro, 8 (13.33%) and 5 (8.33%) were positive for aflatoxins, respectively. Only aflatoxin B1 was detected in both types of foodstuff. There was no significant difference between the proportion of aflatoxin contained in both ground red pepper and Shiro samples. Aflatoxin levels in Shiro and ground red pepper positive samples ranged from 100 to 500 ppb and 250 to 525 ppb, respectively. The mean levels of contamination by aflatoxin in ground red pepper was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of Shiro. Though statistically not significant, the number of positive samples were more in samples from open markets when compared to samples from government owned food stores and retail shops. Conclusions are drawn that ground red pepper and shiro traded in Addis Ababa can be considered as high risk commodities for which routine survey of aflatoxins may be necessary.

The effect of varying doses of oral iodized oil in the prophylaxis of endemic goitre in elementary schools children.

The effect of oral iodine supplementation on total goitre rate (%TGR) and urinary iodine excretion among school children 4 to 16 years of age was studied. In the first group (n = 57) 200mg oral iodized oil reduced %TGR from 31.6% to 17.5% and 33.3% to 24.6% in males and females respectively, while in the second group (n = 53), 400mg iodine reduced the %TGR from 34.0% to 20.8% in males and 35.9% to 24.5% in females after 13 months of intervention. This gave a relative indication that the 200mg is as effective as the 400mg in goitre reduction. In subsequent tests, the maximum urinary iodine excretion was obtained from the groups which received two doses of iodized oil 24 hours after the intervention. A significant (p = 0.003) greater increase in urinary iodine excretion was noted at 24 hours among both male and female children administered 400mg than among those who received 200mg. Measurements after 24 hours showed no significant difference between urinary iodine excretion of the two dose groups. These results suggest that: (i) 200mg is likely equally effective as 400mg for iodine deficiency disorders control and prevention among children and (ii) iodine could be administered annually rather than biannually.