ABSTRACT
As
part of the effort in combating hunger, this study was undertaken to determine
the nutrient composition of an insect, winged termite (Macrotermes Bellicosus).
This insect was high in protein (64.30g/100g), also it could be a good source
of oil (19.93g/100g) and minerals, particularly calcium and potassium, at 975
and 203mg/100g respectively. The
proximate composition was determined according to method of association of analytical chemists
(AOAC, 2000).The insect protein was high in sulphur- amino acid, but marginally
limiting in lysine and threonine with amino acid score (AAS) of 64.66 and 64.12
respectively based on the preschool age (2-5yrs) reference protein requirement.
The termite oil contains appreciable level of unsaturated fatty acids with
oleic and linoleic acids making up 54.80% of total fatty acids. All the test
diets showed positive PER values. The PER of termite 1.78 was higher than that
of fish1.67 but not significantly different, but they were significantly (p<0.05)
lower than casein diet 2.18. Apparent digestibility (AD) of fish diet (81%) and
that of termite (78%) showed no significant (p>0.05) difference, while that
of casein (86%) was significantly (p>0.05) higher than both termite and
fish. The total cholesterol (3.00mmol/l) and LDL (1.00mmol/l) values for the
rats fed fish diet were higher than those found in termite (2.68 and 0.60mmol/l) and casein (2.42 and 0.48mmol/l) but
statistically (p>0.05) nonsignificant. The triglyceride values of rats fed
with termite (2.04mmol/l) was higher than that fed casein (1.86mmol/l) and fish
(1.72mmol/l) diets. The HDL of the rats fed fish diet (1.10mmol/l) was
marginally higher than those fed with termite (1.06mmol/l) and casein (0.98mmol/l)
diets. However, VLDL of those fed with fish (0.90mmol/l) was significantly
(p>0.05) lower than others. Based on these data, termite could be a good
source of protein and serve as supplement to our tuber/ starchy foods.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page – – – – – – – – i
Certification – – – – – – – – – ii
Dedication – – – – – – – – iii
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – iv
Abstract – – – – – – – – v
Table of contents – – – – – – – vi
List of Tables – – – – – – – viii
List of Figures – – – – – – – ix
CHAPTER
ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Food Situation in Nigeria – – – – – 2
1.2 Aims and Objectives – – – – – – 4
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Primary Causes of Undernutriton and Possible Solutions – 5
2.2 Insects as Part of Diet – – – – – – 6
2.3 Termites in Human Diet – – – – – – – 8
2.4 Nutritional Value of Edible Insects – – – – 9
2.5 Other Traditional uses and Economic Potentials of Insects – 12
2.6 Edible Insects and the Environment – – – – 13
2.7 Potential Hazards – – – – – – 14
CHAPTER
THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Chemicals – – – – – – – 15
3.2 Sample Collection – – – – – – 15
3.3 Methods – – – – – – – 15
3.3.1 Ash Determination – – – – – – 15
3.3.2 Crude Fat Determination – – – – – 15
3.3.3 Fibre Determination – – – – – – – 16
3.3.4 Nitrogen Free Extracts – – – – – 17
3.3.5 Determination of Mineral Elements – – – – 17
3.3.6 Determination of Phosphorus by Molybdate Method – – 17
3.3.7 Fatty Acid Analysis – – – – – 18
3.3.8 Crude Protein Determination – – – – – 18
3.3.9 Amino Acid Determination – – – – 18
3.3.10 Lipid Profile – – – – – 19
3.3.11 Iodine Value – – – – – – 20
3.3.12 Peroxide Value – – – – – – – 20
3.3.13 Saponification Value – – – – – – 20
3.4 Formulation of Diets – – – – – – – 21
3.5 Experimental Animals – – – – – – – 21
3.6 Feeding Regime – – – – – – 22
3.7 Collection of Feacal Matter – – – – – 22
3.8 Nutritional Evaluation of Diets – – – – 22
3.9 Calculation and Statistics – – – – 23
CHAPTER
FOUR
4.0 Results – – – – – – – 24
CHAPTER
FIVE: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Discussion – – – – – 32
5.2 Conclusion – – – – – – 36
5.3 Recommendation – – – – – 36
References – – – – – – – 37
LIST
OF TABLES
Table 1: Composition of Reference and Test Diets – – – 21
Table 2: Proximate Composition and Mineral Components of WT Compared to Fish – – – – – – – 24
Table 3: Essential Amino acid Profile of WT compared to Fish – – 25
Table 4: Fatty acid Composition of oil of WT and FISH – 26
Table 5: Physicochemical
Characteristics of WT oil Compared with Fish oil – 27
Table 6: Lipid Profile of Rats fed different Diets – 28
Table 7: Protein Quality Indices of the Diets – – – 29
LIST
OF FIGURES
Fig
1: Food Intake and Weight Gain of Rats
fed fish, Termite and Casein diets for 21days 30
Fig 2: Weekly Weight Gain of Rat on Test Diets – – – 32
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Food
insecurity remains a significant international problem, with developing regions
including Nigeria enduring most of the burden. This becomes worrisome given the
fact that inadequate, safe and nutritious food availability does not ensure
food accessibility. The
search for alternative source of food nutrient remains a perpetual event as
human population growth is dynamic and ever increasing under – exploitation and
under-utilisation of abundant alternative natural resources has now been
recognised as one of the militating factors against nutrient glut as intended
by the ‘creator’. Persistent undernutrition and
malnutrition has a consequence of leaving children weak, stunted, wasted, vulnerable
to disease attacks like diarrhoea, measles, malaria and acute respiratory
infections. Malnutrition in adolescents and adults can lead to decreased energy
levels, growth failure, and decreased ability to resist infections, short life
expectancy, powerlessness and even death (Akinsanmi, 2005). The consumption of selected insects in diverse
forms could be a positive response to this imperative. Yoloye (1988) has
reported that insects are the most successful prolific group in animal kingdom,
constituting about 76% of known species of surviving animals.
Malnutrition
often begins at conception and child malnutrition is linked to poverty, low
levels of education, and poor access to health services, including reproductive
health and family planning. Over
one-third of child deaths are due to undernutrition, mostly from increased
severity of disease (UNICEF, 2009).
Children who are undernourished between conception and age two are at
high risk for impaired cognitive development, which adversely affects the
country’s productivity and growth. The economic costs of undernutrition include
direct costs such as the increased burden on the health care system, and
indirect costs of lost productivity. Childhood anemia alone is associated with
a 2.5% drop in adult wages (Horton and Ross, 2003).
Globally, about 11 million children under five years
(U-5) die annually and 99% are in the developing countries (Ashworth et al.,
2004). Malnutrition accounts for about 66% of these deaths and poor hospital
care of severely malnourished children accounts for case fatality rate as high
as 50% (Ashworth et al., 2004). Early recognition of malnutrition is very
essential for effective treatment and control of the problem if the vulnerable
groups are to be protected.
1.1 FOOD SITUATION IN NIGERIA
COMPOSITIONAL EVALUATION AND NUTRITIONAL POTENTIAL OF WINGED TERMITE (MACROTERMES BELLICOSUS)
