Protein-Rich Food Mixtures for Feeding Infants and Preschool Children in the Middle East

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Abstract
Protein-calorie malnutrition among infants and preschool children is a serious problem in the Middle East. The studies reported deal with the development of a protein-rich food mixture, designated as Laubina, with a high over-all nutritional quality that could be produced commercially at a reasonable cost. Growth and nitrogen utilization assays point out the superior quality of Laubina 103 and 104, containing respectively, by weight, 60 and 62 per cent wheat, 20 and 25 per cent chickpea, and 10 per cent dried skim milk in each mixture. These mixtures were supplemented with bone ash and vitamins A and D. Laubina 103 contained 5 per cent vegetable oil which was omitted from 104. Preliminary studies have indicated that the presence of oil may prove of Value in enhancing the acceptability of the mixture. If Laubina 103 is to be produced commercially, it will be necessary to add an antioxidant to improve the keeping quality of the mixture. The omission of dried skim milk from the mixture, as in Laubina 105, lowered the nutritional quality considerably as shown by data on the growth respose of weanling rats. This is mostly due to a decrease in the riboflavin content of the mixture.

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