Estimation of Nutritional and Starch Characteristics of Dioscorea alata (Water Yam) Varieties Commonly Cultivated in the South-Eastern Nigeria
Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology · pp. 145–152 · Published 15 Dec 2014
10.9734/BJAST/2015/14095Abstract
Background: Studies on the nutritional and mineral compositions of staple foods will provide evidence to regulate intake of certain common foods for optimal health condition. Aim: To estimate the proximate, mineral and starch characteristics of five local varieties, D. purpurea, D. atropurpurea, D. liliopsida (purple yam), D. vilgaris, and D. villosa of Dioscorea alata grown in Izzi Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methodology: Five (5) commonly cultivated varieties of D. alata were sampled, each variety in triplicates, and prepared for analysis by peeling, dicing, drying and milling into flour. The proximate, nutritional and starch characteristics were determined by standard methods. Minerals were quantified by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric Method. Results: The results showed that the varieties has moisture content 9.20-10.30%, ash content 2.48-3.53%, fiber content 3.31-3.53%, fat content 1.62-2.41%, protein content 8.40-10.46%, and carbohydrate content 70.88-73.90%. There were significant differences (P<.05) in the proximate compositions within the varieties. The ranges of minerals in mg per kg (dry weight) were Na 16.38-24.84, K 97.78-141.14, Ca 79.99-269.75, Mg 18.55-31.53, P 114.65-211.63, Fe 15.18-30.86. Glycaemic index ranged from 35.56-41.31, amylose content 12.42-16.11% and gelatinization temperature 85.00-87.00°C. Conclusion: The results indicate that the protein and fiber contents of D. alata varieties estimated in this study were high. The low glycemic index confirmed the yam varieties as low glycemic index food. It was concluded that the yam varieties are good sources of protein nutrient and suitable staple food for the diabetics. However, low mineral compositions were reported. Therefore, there is a need for intense cultivation of improved varieties for improved mineral intake from the yam by the consumers.
References (28)
- 1 CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF FOODS. [DOI]
- 2 AOAC, 1970. Official Methods of Analysis of the
- 3 A prospective study of dietary glycemic load, carbohydrate intake, and risk of coronary heart disease in US women [DOI]
- 4 Carbohydrate Nutrition, Insulin Resistance, and the Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome in the Framingham Offspring Cohort [DOI]
- 5 Relation between a diet with a high glycemic load and plasma concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in middle-aged women [DOI]
- 6 Association between Usual Sodium and Potassium Intake and Blood Pressure and Hypertension among U.S. Adults: NHANES 2005–2010 [DOI]
- 7 Yam diseases and its management in Nigeria [DOI]
- 8 The impact of cooking on the proximate composition and anti-nutritional factors of water yam (Dioscorea alata ) [DOI]
- 9 Yam Production and its Future Prospects [DOI]
- 10 The Investigation of Chemical Composition and Functional Properties of Water Yam (Dioscorea alata): Effect of Varietal Differences [DOI]
- 11 Glycemic index, glycemic load and insulinemic index of Chinese starchy foods [DOI]
- 12 Nutritional and biochemical composition of D. alata (Dioscorea spp.) tubers
- 13 NUTRITIONAL AND ANTINUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF WILD YAM (Dioscorea spp.)
- 14 Indeks Glikemik Pangan
- 15 Nutrition and oral infectious diseases: state of the science.
- 16 Proximate and Mineral Compositions of Dioscorea rotundata (White Yam) and Colocasia esculenta (White Cocoyam) [DOI]
- 17 Glycaemic Index. Relevance for health, dietary recommendations and food labelling [DOI]
- 18 The Potentials of Roots and Tubers as Weaning Foods [DOI]
- 19 Cassava as food : toxicity and technology
- 20 Biochemical composition and storage of Jamaican yams (Dioscorea sp) [DOI]
- 21 Antinutritional Assessment of D. alata Varieties [DOI]
- 22 Proximate Composition, Physiological Changes during Storage, and Shelf Life of Some Nigerian Varieties of Yams (Dioscorea species) [DOI]
- 23 A Comparative Study and Determination of Glycemic Indices of Three Yam Cultivars (Dioscorea rotundata, Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea domentorum) [DOI]
- 24 Developmental Changes in Properties of Sweet Potato Starches [DOI]
- 25 Quantitative Water Content Measurements in Food Wafers Using Terahertz Radiation
- 26 Evaluation of Native and Carboxymethyl Yam (Dioscorea esculenta) Starches as Tablet Disintegrants [DOI]
- 27 Some Characteristics Of Biodegradable Film Substituted By Yam (Dioscorea Alata) Starch From Thailand [DOI]
- 28 Official Methods of Analysis of [DOI]
Cited by 55
Okechukwu, C.O., Odo, P.C., Igwesi, L. U. · Nigerian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences · 2025
Yuting Zhang, Jiajia Wu, Huiting Lin · Plants · 2026
Bowen University, DO Ogundare, AR Tanimola · African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development · 2022
Batuwitage Kosambi Hansini Hirupraba Batuwita, Jayasinghe Mudalige Jagath Kumara Jayasinghe, Pathirage Rupika Damayanthi Perera · Food and Humanity · 2025
Dupe Temilade Otolowo, Kudirat Titilope Araoye, Mosunmola Maderin · Journal of Culinary Science & Technology · 2021
Kajal S. Patel, Nilima Karmakar, Ketan D. Desai · Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants · 2019
Adegboyeda Adeniji, Apovughaye Taiga, M S Ayodele · International Annals of Science · 2019
John Owoicho Onuh, Dooshima Shiriki, Simon Terver Ubwa · Food and Nutrition Sciences · 2015
Marney Pascoli Cereda · Starchy Crops Morphology, Extraction, Properties and Applications · 2023
Showing 19 of 55 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.
Related research
- Nutrient Analysis and Antimicrobial Activities of the Leaves and Fruit Pulp Extracts of Tetrapluera tetraptera on Clinical Bacteria Isolates — shares topic coverage
- The Effect of E-waste Dumpsite Soil on Cultured Tilapia Fish and Associated Microorganisms — shares topic coverage
- Assessing the Microbiological Level and the Incidence of Water-soaking on the Proximate Composition of two Cultivars of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Grains Grown in Côte d’Ivoire — shares topic coverage
- Proximate Composition of Banana and Pineapple Wine Fermented by Meyerozyma guilliermondii and Pichia guilliermondii — shares topic coverage
- Chemical and Sensory Evaluation of Cereal-Based Complementary Foods Supplemented with Soybean and Monkey Kola — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
76
Page views
0
PDF downloads
28
Outbound clicks
55
Citations
Views over time
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.