Metabolizable and digestible energy of some selected snacks from south-western Nigeria

Abstract

Knowledge of Metabolizable Energy (ME) and Digestible Energy (DE) of any food is an essential tool in weight loss/gain program. This study was conducted to determine the value of spent and unspent energy of some randomly franchised fast foods (FF) using albino rats. Seventy-eight (78) albino rats were fed ten FFF using a randomized block experiment. Feces and urine from each rat were collected daily in triplicate and analyzed for DE and ME using standard laboratory procedures. The animals were sacrificed after an overnight fast and some internal organs were weighed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). Daily energy intake of rats ranged from 58.5 to 124.54 kcal. ME and DE value ranged from 9.03 to 44.44 kcal and 11.22 to 45.28 kcal respectively. ME was significoo 8.41 g and 4.54 to 7.92 g respectively. Average weekly weight gain of rat models ranged from 8.68 to 11.93 g. PPMC for liver weight of rat models correlated significantly with zinc intake (r= 0.433; P≤0.05). Fast foods are good sources of digestible energy which might be useful in programs requiring use of foods high in unspent energy.