Comparative proximate composition and antioxidant vitamins contents of two honey varieties (light amber and dark amber) from Sokoto State, Nigeria

Abstract

The proximate composition and antioxidant vitamins analysis of two varieties of honey (dark amber and light amber) were carried out using standard methods. The values for moisture, ash, crude lipid, crude protein and crude carbohydrate contents of the two honeys, (light amber and dark amber) are 9.39 ± 0.15, 0.55± 0.05, 1.51± 0.11,1.64± 0.06and 86.89± 0.93 % (for light amber) and 13.03± 0.47, 0.68± 0.11,3.44± 042,1.87± 0.11and 81.57± 0.47% (for dark amber) respectively, while fibre was not detected in both samples. Both samples showed high amount of carbohydrate, that of light amber being higher. The antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, C and E) content of the two honeys are 4.08± 0.21, 2.22± 0.10and 0.28± 0.03(mg/dl), (for light amber), and 4.42± 0.06, 2.61± 0.11,and 0.26± 0.02 (mg/dl), (for dark amber) respectively. Both samples
showed high content of Vitamin A, with that of dark amber being higher. The results suggest that both honeys are nutritionally good source of energy and possess some antioxidant vitamins.

Keywords: Comparative, proximate composition, antioxidant vitamins, honey