Effect of Feeding Albino Rats with Acha-Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Blends on the Blood Glucose Level and Hematological Parameters

Aims: To investigate the health and the physiological status of farm animals.

Study Design: We formulated seven (7) samples from ACHA and orange-fleshed sweet potato mixture with two (2) samples serving as control.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Federal University Wukari between February 2022 and May 2022.

Methodology: The orange fleshed sweet potato flour was mixed with ACHA flour separately at different proportions (100:0, 95:5, 90:10, 85:15, 80:20, 75:25 and 0:100) while one hundred percent (100%) acha flour and orange-fleshed sweet potato was used as the control. Bone meal (10%), blood meal (10%) and salt (5%) were added to each sample. The albino rats were kept in a cage in five (5) segments, and the blends were fed to the rats for 21 days and 100g of the formulated feed were weighed into plates in each segment. The daily weight of the albino rats was measured. Evaluated bioassay parameters including feed and water intake, and body weight. Hematological properties including hemoglobin, red blood cell, white blood cell, mean cellular volume, mean cellular hemoglobin, and mean cellular hemoglobin concentration of the albino rats were also measured.

Results: The result of feed intake/weight gain revealed that the rats fed with 0% OFSP showed the highest values for 21 days. The kidney, liver and heart weight of the albino rats decreased from1.23 to 1.05, 5.65 to 2.65 and 1.28 to 0.23g, respectively, while the carcass increased from 104.55 to 111.55g upon OFSP substitution.

Conclusion: The result of this study revealed that locally available food commodities such as ACHA and orange fleshed sweet potato can be utilized to produce a protein-rich complementary food capable of combating malnutrition among children. A protein and carbohydrate-rich weaning food comparable to commercial weaning food (cerelac) can be strategically formulated from the blends of ACHA and orange-fleshed sweet potato (75:25).