Estimation of Nutritional and Starch Characteristics of Dioscorea alata (Water Yam) Varieties Commonly Cultivated in the South-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Studies on the nutritional and mineral compns. of staple foods will provide evidence to regulate intake of certain common foods for optimal health condition. Aim: To est. 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. Methodol.: Five (5) commonly cultivated varieties of D. alata were sampled, each variety in triplicates, and prepd. for anal. by peeling, dicing, drying and milling into flour. The proximate, nutritional and starch characteristics were detd. by std. 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