Nutrient Content and In-vitro Starch Hydrolysis of Some Varieties of NERICA Rice

Abstract

This study investigated the nutrient quality and the glycemic index of some varieties of Africa (NERICA) rice. The nutrients were analyzed using the official methods of analysis (AOAC), minerals using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) after wet digestion, vitamins using a High performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), while in-vitro starch hydrolysis was performed using multi-enzyme digestion method. The results were compared with that of Aroso (imported rice). The content of moisture, ash, fiber, fat, protein and carbohydrate ranged from 8.2 to 9.8, 0.02 to 0.09, 0.3 to 0.5, 2.4 to 5.7, 5.9 to 13.0, and 74.4 to 82.8%, respectively. Iron varied from 30 to 69.3 mg / kg, zinc, (2.4 to 10.4) copper, (0.5 to 4.6) calcium (43.4 to 146) and magnesium from 85.5 to 368 mg / kg. Ascorbic acid ranged from (8.1 to 36.2 mg / kg, pyridoxine (372 to 789 mg / kg), thiamine (116 to 383 mg / kg) and folate from 66.6 to 142 mg / kg. Reducing sugar, total sugar and starch (mg / g) ranged from 60 to 117 and 96 to 157, and 171 to 188 mg / g, respectively, while amylose ranged between 19 and 30%. There were negative correlation between glycemic index and fibre (r = -0.814); and between hydrolysis index and fibre (r = -0.731). The study showed that NERICA rice contain essential nutrients but it has high glycemic index could be a risk factor for disease like Diabetes mellitus