Nutrient composition of commonly consumed edible insects in the Lango sub-region of Northern Uganda

Abstract

The study aimed at nutritional characterization of commonly consumed insects in Lango sub region, northern Uganda. Proximate composition, mineral and fatty acid profile of Syntermes soldiers, Macrotermes bellicosus and Brachytrupes spp were determined using standard analytical methods. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed and means were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at 5% (P=0.05). Nutrient contents of Syntermes soldiers, Macrotermes bellicosus and Brachytrupes spp were: 64.72, 40.72, 65.35% protein; 4.99, 44.84, 11.76% fat; 23.03, 8.38, 16.87% dietary fib re and; 4.19, 5.69, 4.88% ash, respectively. Energy content was 502.86, 696.10, 536.42 kcal/100 g while protein digestibility was 31.39, 44.39, 50.22%, respectively. Essential minerals were abundant with 897.15, 676.96, 877.26 mg/100 g potassium; 32.50, 42.71, 33.60 mg/100 g iron and; 17.64, 16.90, 23.02 mg/100 g zinc, respectively. Levels of essential fatty acids were appreciable with: 16.74, 8.92, and 22.14% Linoleic acid and 2.88, 0.63, and 2.55% Linolenic acid, respectively. Oleic acid was the most abundant at 37.64, 47.73 and 38.27%. While the ratio of total polyunsaturated fatty acid to total saturated fatty acids were; 1.32, 0.24, and 0.71 respectively. Consumption of these insects could contribute to the dietary intakes of the essential nutrient