Nutritional And Antinutritional Evaluation of Gluten-Free Pasta from Cocoyam Starch and Lima Beans Flour

Abstract

Pasta is a wheat-based food product which has gained universal popularity in recent years due to its versatility, low cost, ease of preparation and nutritional quality. It is traditionally produced from wheat that is largely imported in Nigeria, placing a heavy burden on the dwindling financial resources of the nation. Wheat also contains gluten, which triggers a multi-system autoimmune disorder called celiac disease in genetically predisposed individuals. Treatment for celiac disease is complete exclusion of dietary gluten. Efforts are currently being made to develop gluten-free pasta from indigenous crops in order to reduce wheat importation and provide alternatives to consumers affected by celiac disease. Cocoyam and lima beans are gluten-free, underutilised indigenous tropical crops with a rich nutritional profile, which can be used to replace wheat flour in pasta production. This study, therefore, aims to develop gluten-free pasta from lima bean flour and cocoyam starch. Composite blends of pregelatinized cocoyam starch, germinated lima beans flour and xanthum gum (binder) were formulated in the following ratios: (100:0, 87.5:12:5, 75:25, 62.5:37.5 and 50:50) and used to produce pasta. The protein, moisture and carbohydrate contents of the gluten-free pasta ranged from 6.54 -18.82%, 9.06-10.56% and 59.29-74.30% respectively. Mineral content of gluten-free pasta ranged from 61.54-108.20 mg/100g for calcium and 0.94-6.09 mg/100g for iron. Lysine values increased from 2.63 (100% Wheat Flour Pasta) to 3.85 g/100 g protein (50% PCS, 50% GLBF & xanthum gum) while total amino acids ranged from 53.66-83.11 g/100 g protein. The antinutritional factors cyanide, oxalate and phytic acid ranged from 0.191-1.199mg/100g, 10.251-85.064 mg/100g and 0.01-1.66% respectively. The study concluded that pregelatinized cocoyam starch and germinated lima beans flour blends are effective in developing nutritious gluten-free pasta.