Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a public health problem in Ghana. Research on the orange flesh sweet potato root has been given prominence because of its high β - carotene content as a means to enhance the nutritive value and vitamin A content of the traditional diets of Ghanaian children as a long -term intervention towards combating VAD. Two Ghanaian cereal -legume weaning foods: roasted maize- soy blend and fermented maize -soy blend were added to Orange Flesh Sweet potato (O FS) flour from the variety, Beauregard, to develop four weaning food formulations . To each product formulation preparation, 25% and 50% OFS flour was added to the basic cereal - legume meals , and mixed thoroughly. The four weaning formulations were evaluated for chemical composition, sensory characteristics and consumer acceptability. All samples had a range of protein (12.1% - 15%), fat (4.8% - 6.4%), carbohydrate (71.1% – 75.1%), energy (380 - 390 kcal/100g) and minerals (calcium, iron and phosphorus) to ensure good nutrient density, while the moisture content was low (5.3% - 6.1%) for storage stability. The contribution of β -carotene ( 55.18 –115.55 ug/g) by the OFS in the formulations further enhanced the nutritive value of all the blends and is enough to meet the daily β -carotene needs of the children ( 1-6 yrs of 400 -450ug/100g). A higher level of β -carotene was seen in the roasted maize meal weaning foods which make s them a better potential blend for combating VAD. Also, sensory evaluation of the products indicated the highest consumer acceptability score (87%) for the roasted maize meal porridge formulation containing 25% OFS . It is, therefore , concluded that OFS flour has the potential to be used at 25% replacement level in the soy- fortified roasted maize meal formulation, and OFS is a useful ingredient with the potential to improve the β -carotene or vitamin A content of such formulations . This will help alleviate vitamin A deficiency of children in Ghana and other countries with similar problems . It is , therefore, recommended that the orange flesh sweet potato flour be used by mothers as an entry point for enhancing the traditional weaning food preparations .
Hypoparathyroidism in an Egyptian child with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome: a case report
