Nutrient composition of four species of winged termites consumed in western Kenya

J N Kinyuru; S O Konyole; Nanna Roos; C A Onyango; V O Owino; B O Owuor; B B Estambale; Henrik Friis; Jens Aagaard-Hansen; G M Kenji

doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2013.02.008

Nutrient composition of four species of winged termites consumed in western Kenya

J N Kinyuru, S O Konyole, Nanna Roos, C A Onyango, V O Owino, B O Owuor, B B Estambale, Henrik Friis, Jens Aagaard-Hansen, G M Kenji

64 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to gain knowledge on the nutrient composition of Macrotermes subhylanus, Pseudacanthotermes militaris, Macrotermes bellicosus and P. spiniger termite species, which are consumed in western Kenya. Proximate, iron, zinc, calcium and fatty acid composition were analyzed in order to ascertain their potential in food-based strategies to improve nutritional health. The fat content was 44.82-47.31. g/100. g, protein 33.51-39.74. g/100. g, available carbohydrate 0.72-8.73. g/100. g, iron 53.33-115.97. mg/100. g and zinc 7.10-12.86. mg/100. g. The level of unsaturated fatty acids was 50.54-67.83%, while n-6:n-3 ratio ranged between 5.80:1.00 and 57.70:1.00, thus signifying potential nutritional and public health significance. The termites may be exploited in provision of high-quality diets especially in the developing countries, which have been plagued by iron and zinc deficiencies as well as poor supply of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid sources.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Food Composition and Analysis
Volume	30
Issue number	2
Pages (from-to)	120-124
Number of pages	5
ISSN	0889-1575
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2013.02.008
Publication status	Published - Jun 2013

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title = "Nutrient composition of four species of winged termites consumed in western Kenya",

abstract = "The objective of this study was to gain knowledge on the nutrient composition of Macrotermes subhylanus, Pseudacanthotermes militaris, Macrotermes bellicosus and P. spiniger termite species, which are consumed in western Kenya. Proximate, iron, zinc, calcium and fatty acid composition were analyzed in order to ascertain their potential in food-based strategies to improve nutritional health. The fat content was 44.82-47.31. g/100. g, protein 33.51-39.74. g/100. g, available carbohydrate 0.72-8.73. g/100. g, iron 53.33-115.97. mg/100. g and zinc 7.10-12.86. mg/100. g. The level of unsaturated fatty acids was 50.54-67.83%, while n-6:n-3 ratio ranged between 5.80:1.00 and 57.70:1.00, thus signifying potential nutritional and public health significance. The termites may be exploited in provision of high-quality diets especially in the developing countries, which have been plagued by iron and zinc deficiencies as well as poor supply of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid sources.",

author = "Kinyuru, {J N} and Konyole, {S O} and Nanna Roos and Onyango, {C A} and Owino, {V O} and Owuor, {B O} and Estambale, {B B} and Henrik Friis and Jens Aagaard-Hansen and Kenji, {G M}",

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AU - Kinyuru, J N

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AU - Owino, V O

AU - Owuor, B O

AU - Estambale, B B

AU - Friis, Henrik

AU - Aagaard-Hansen, Jens

AU - Kenji, G M

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N2 - The objective of this study was to gain knowledge on the nutrient composition of Macrotermes subhylanus, Pseudacanthotermes militaris, Macrotermes bellicosus and P. spiniger termite species, which are consumed in western Kenya. Proximate, iron, zinc, calcium and fatty acid composition were analyzed in order to ascertain their potential in food-based strategies to improve nutritional health. The fat content was 44.82-47.31. g/100. g, protein 33.51-39.74. g/100. g, available carbohydrate 0.72-8.73. g/100. g, iron 53.33-115.97. mg/100. g and zinc 7.10-12.86. mg/100. g. The level of unsaturated fatty acids was 50.54-67.83%, while n-6:n-3 ratio ranged between 5.80:1.00 and 57.70:1.00, thus signifying potential nutritional and public health significance. The termites may be exploited in provision of high-quality diets especially in the developing countries, which have been plagued by iron and zinc deficiencies as well as poor supply of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid sources.

AB - The objective of this study was to gain knowledge on the nutrient composition of Macrotermes subhylanus, Pseudacanthotermes militaris, Macrotermes bellicosus and P. spiniger termite species, which are consumed in western Kenya. Proximate, iron, zinc, calcium and fatty acid composition were analyzed in order to ascertain their potential in food-based strategies to improve nutritional health. The fat content was 44.82-47.31. g/100. g, protein 33.51-39.74. g/100. g, available carbohydrate 0.72-8.73. g/100. g, iron 53.33-115.97. mg/100. g and zinc 7.10-12.86. mg/100. g. The level of unsaturated fatty acids was 50.54-67.83%, while n-6:n-3 ratio ranged between 5.80:1.00 and 57.70:1.00, thus signifying potential nutritional and public health significance. The termites may be exploited in provision of high-quality diets especially in the developing countries, which have been plagued by iron and zinc deficiencies as well as poor supply of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid sources.

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Nutrient composition of four species of winged termites consumed in western Kenya

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