Nutritional assessment of yam (Dioscorea alata) tubers

Nutritional assessment of yam (Dioscorea alata) tubers

1994

A:PS

The nutrient and antinutrient components of tubers from 7 cultivars of Dioscorea alata were determined. The average crude protein content of D. alata tubers was 7.4%. Starch (75.6-84.3%) was the predominant fraction of the tuber DM. Significant differences in crude protein and starch contents were observed among cultivars. Vitamin C content of the yam tubers ranged from 13.0 to 24.7 mg/100 g fresh weight. Results showed yams to be reasonably good sources of minerals. Phytic acid contents of the yams were low, with values ranging from 58.6 to 198.0 mg/100 g dry matter. Total oxalate levels in yam tubers were found to be in the range of 486-781 mg/100 g DM, but may not constitute a nutritional concern since 50-75% of the oxalates were in the water-soluble form. Overall results are suggestive of the nutritional superiority of yams compared to other tropical root crops.

v.46(1):33-39, PLANT FOODS FOR HUMAN NUTRITION

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