Nutrient Composition Of Cereal Based Oral Rehydration Solutions For Management Of Diarrhoea In Infants

Abstract

This study evaluated the nutrient composition of two cereal, millet and sorghum, based oral rehydration solutions. The test solutions were made from 50g of millet and sorghum each. The nutrient composition of the solution was determined using proximate analysis. The result showed that the mothers were aware of the salt sugar oral rehydration solution. However 57.7% did not know the proportion of the sugar and salt used in the preparation. These mothers had very little knowledge of any other substitute used in diarrhoea treatment. Most of the respondents (753%) consumed millet or sorghum. Sixty five percent gave millet or sorghum to their children as either a drink or porridge. The result of the sensory evaluation showed that the sorghum oral rehydration solution was more acceptable than the millet solution. The proximate analysis showed that the millet oral rehydration solution provided 170.2kcal of energy and 8.76% protein per litre, 0.8mg potassium per 100gand22mgofsodum per 100g. The sorghum oral rehydration soluton provided170.2kcal of energy and 8.76% protein per ltre, sodum 32mg/100g and potassium 1.4mg/100g.

Keywords: Cereal, Oral rehydration solution, Nutrient content, Acceptability