Abstract
Introduction. Infant malnutrition in Côte d’Ivoire, characterized by protein and micronutrient deficiencies, persists despite the availability of underutilized local resources such as cashew and Parkia biglobosa pulp. Industrial flours, although nutritious, remain inaccessible to disadvantaged households due to their high cost, limiting access to suitable complementary foods. In the absence of affordable and safe solutions, this study evaluates the impact of enriching infant flours with local ingredients on nutritional intake and digestibility.
Methodology. An in vivo study was conducted on three groups of Wistar rats fed for 28 days with two enriched flours (FCF and NCF) based on corn, néré pulp, and cashew almond flour; a non-enriched control flour (CF). Analyzed parameters include Growth: Food consumption (TDMI), weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), total protein intake (TIP), protein efficiency ratio (PER); Biochemical: Total proteins, creatinine, albumin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and HDL and Safety: Relative organ weights (liver, kidneys).
Results. No significant differences were observed between enriched flours and the control flour for TDMI, WG, or FCR. However, FCF and NCF flours showed higher protein intake (TIP: 2.71 ± 0.01 g/d vs. 2.31 ± 0.2 g/d for CF) and improved PER (1.83-2.13 vs. 2.008-2.13), reflecting enhanced protein quality. Lipid profiles (triglycerides, HDL cholesterol) and protein markers (albumin) were also optimized with enriched flours. Organ weights remained normal, confirming the safety of the formulations.
Conclusions. Enriching infant flours with néré pulp and cashew almond flour significantly improves their nutritional quality, particularly in terms of protein intake and lipid profiles, without posing any health risks. These findings offer promising prospects for developing affordable, tailored complementary foods to meet the needs of Ivorian infants.
