Nutritional and Physical Attributes of Maize-mushroom Complementary Porridges as Influenced by Mushroom Species and Ratio

Child malnutrition is common in developing countries. one of the major contributing factor of the wide-spread problems of malnutrition among infants and children is the use of cereal-based foods, including maize meal porridge that are characterized by low protein content and micronutrients deficiency. This calls for action to develop home based enrichment of traditional foods by exploiting the nutritious foods like mushrooms that are rich in protein and micronutrients content. Nutritional and physical attributes of the maize meal porridges fortified with mushroom (Agaricus bisporus and Pleurotus ostreatus) flours were investigated. The maize flour was replaced with mushroom flours at different levels; a control sample (0%), 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% of mushroom flour. Increasing both A. bisporus and P. ostreatus flour content resulted in increasing of protein, in vitro-protein digestibility, micronutrients (zinc and iron) and fiber. Furthermore, increasing mushroom content resulted in decreasing of fat, carbohydrates, energy and viscosity. However, adding P. ostreatus flour resulted in increasing of the pH and decreasing of the Total titratable acidity (TTA). On the other hand, increasing the A. bisporus flour resulted in decreasing of the pH and increasing of the TTA. A strong significant (p<0.05) linear correlation (-0.73) was observed between the in vitro-protein digestibility and the viscosity in maize-mushroom porridges. Considering the protein content, micronutrients content, the in vitro-protein digestibility and the decreased viscosity, these fortified porridges can highly contribute to reduce the protein malnutrition and micronutrients deficiency.