Evaluation of the West African Diet of Plant Origin
type: CreativeWork
description: Africa is one of the areas of the world where proteincalorie malnutrition (PCM) of childhood is especially prevalent. A review of literature revealed causes and incidence of PCM in Africa, general pathological signs of PCM, and efforts in Africa to overcome PCM through protein supplementation. The effect of red pepper on the gastro-intestinal tract was also reviewed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate three indigenous West African foods--peanuts, black-eyed peas, and egusi seed—as protein supplements when added to the basic West African diet of plant origin. The protein supplements were chosen because they met the criteria of economy, availability. and acceptability to the people of that area. To test the value of these foods, experiments were conducted using weanling Sprague-Dawley male albino rats. The comparative value of these protein supplements were demonstrated through the following observations of the animals: growth (through weekly weights), food efficiency ratio (through comparing weight gain to amount ingested), endurance (through swim tests) , and organ weights. The effect of red pepper and protein supplements in the West African diet was tested in 1-uX the number and extent of gastro-intestinal lesions. Five staples commonly used in West Africa (cassava, yam flour, plantain, rice, and corn) served as a basal diet in Experiment I. With this basal diet, the three supplements were each tested at three levels and in combinations to determine the most appropriate level of supplement to use in Experiment II. All levels were in a range felt to be within the limits of human consumption. In Experiment II, a week's estimate of a typical diet of plant origin for a West African adult was formulated. Foods for each of the seven days were listed, and from this, the per cent contribution for each food in relation to the total diet was determined. The complete diet was termed the Basic West African (BWA) diet, and it served as the basis for supplementation in th…
abstract: Africa is one of the areas of the world where proteincalorie malnutrition (PCM) of childhood is especially prevalent. A review of literature revealed causes and incidence of PCM in Africa, general pathological signs of PCM, and efforts in Africa to overcome PCM through protein supplementation. The effect of red pepper on the gastro-intestinal tract was also reviewed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate three indigenous West African foods--peanuts, black-eyed peas, and egusi seed—as protein supplements when added to the basic West African diet of plant origin. The protein supplements were chosen because they met the criteria of economy, availability. and acceptability to the people of that area. To test the value of these foods, experiments were conducted using weanling Sprague-Dawley male albino rats. The comparative value of these protein supplements were demonstrated through the following observations of the animals: growth (through weekly weights), food efficiency ratio (through comparing weight gain to amount ingested), endurance (through swim tests) , and organ weights. The effect of red pepper and protein supplements in the West African diet was tested in 1-uX the number and extent of gastro-intestinal lesions. Five staples commonly used in West Africa (cassava, yam flour, plantain, rice, and corn) served as a basal diet in Experiment I. With this basal diet, the three supplements were each tested at three levels and in combinations to determine the most appropriate level of supplement to use in Experiment II. All levels were in a range felt to be within the limits of human consumption. In Experiment II, a week's estimate of a typical diet of plant origin for a West African adult was formulated. Foods for each of the seven days were listed, and from this, the per cent contribution for each food in relation to the total diet was determined. The complete diet was termed the Basic West African (BWA) diet, and it served as the basis for supplementation in th…
author: Fuller, Aletha B.
language: English
keywords: Nursing, Nutrition -- Africa, Western; Plants, Edible -- Africa, Western
date published: 1970-05-01T07:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:53:08Z
provider: Loma Linda University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Loma Linda University