FORMULATION OF THERAPEUTIC DIET (WHITE RICE, PEANUT, TAMBA, AND SOYBEANS) FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PROTEIN ENERGY MALNUTRITION (PEM) AMONG CHILDREN OF 6MONTH TO 2YEARS OLD

The formulation and processing of nutritious weaning and foods and therapeutic diets from local and readily available raw materials, as legumes can participate in solving the problem. The study focuses on formulation of therapeutic diet using white rice, tamber, peanut, and soybeans at the ratio 30:20:30:20g of soybeans, rice, tamber and peanut respectively. flour was produced using a modified method of processing of grains for “Tom Brown”. The legumes used in the formulation were roasted prior to milling into flour, to reduce anti-nutritional factors such as phytate. This is because the content of phytate in foods has a strong negative effect on bioavailability of important minerals, and food processing methods that reduce the phytate content of foods should be promoted, especially for children with PEM. In The legumes used in the formulation of the locally produced therapuetic diet contributed to most of the protein content of the product. Sensory evaluation of the two samples (F1 and F2) was conducted with general acceptability of 90% and 80% was recorded for sample F1 and F2 respectively. The result of proximate analysis showed 11.98% fat, 1.64% ash, crude fiber 3.15%, protein 14.18% and 66.11% CHO, with calculated energy value of 428.98 Kcal/100g. the microbial analysis showed Total Bacteria count 3.2 x 3.2 x 102 and 2.0 x 103std, Yeast/molds count 3.5 x 3.5 x 103 and1.6 x 103std Enterobacteriaceae count 1.6 x 1.6 x 104 and 1.1 x 10.3std According to the recommendations, Protein should contribute 10- 12% of the energy value of RUTF. Compared with the standard, the locally produced therapuetic diet were similar in protein content. Samples F1 and F2 had protein contents of 14.18 and 14.06% respectively, which were higher than that of Plumpy’Nut (10.9%). WHO standard (2013), recommended that fat should contribute 40-60% to the energy value. Poly unsaturated oils are used in the production of RUTF to provide essential fatty acids. Fat is very essential in the formulation of RUTF. This is so because Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) leads to severe wasting and loss of subcutaneous fat. Fat in addition to protein helps in tissue regeneration, protection, and normal functioning of the immune cells which prevent children from suffering from childhood diseases.