BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF PROTEIN-QUALITY OF HOME-PROCESSED SUPPLEMENTARY FOODS FOR PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN

Four supplements using wheat, pearl millet (bajra), bengal gram, green gram, groundnuts, jaggery and amaranth leaves were developed, employi ng roasting and malting techniques. The developed supplements and one commercial weaning food (Cerelac) were evaluated for protein quality, using rats as an experimental model. The values of protein efficiency ratio, food efficiencv ratio, biological value, net protein utilizatio n, net protein retention and protein retention efficiency of bajra-bas ed supplements were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of whea t-based supplements, similar to Cerelac, but significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of casein (standard protein). Rats fed on bajra-based supplements showed the best growth pattern throughout the feeding tria l.