Iron, ß-carotene and Vitamin C contents of some underutilized vegetables in South Eastern Nigeria

Objectives

The objective of the study was to determine the iron, ß-carotene and Vitamin C contents of some underutilized vegetables in South Eastern Nigeria.

Methods

Focus group discussion (FGD) was used to identify twenty underutilized vegetables in South Eastern Nigeria. Standard methods were used to determine the iron, ß-carotene and Vitamin C contents of the vegetables. The results were statistically analyzed using means and standard deviation.

Results

The iron levels of the vegetables ranged from 1.40 mg/100g in Brillantaisi nitens to 11.80 mg/100g in Psychotria viridis, ß-carotene varied from 15.20 RE in Ficus elsticoides to 1933.33 RE in Vitex doniana while Vitamin C ranged from 2.40 mg/100g in Moraceae spp. to 38.40 mg/100g in Portulace oleraceae.

Conclusions

Some of the underutilized vegetables had high levels of iron, ß-carotene and Vitamin C. This is evidence based information for re-introduction of the vegetables to the populace to fight Vitamin A deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia particularly among the vulnerable groups.