Infant food based on coconut protein, groundnut protein isolate and skim milk powder. II—Overall growth-promotinǵ value and supplementary value to poor cereal diets

The nutritive value of a spray-dried infant food described in Part I was studied by growth experiments on albino rats. The growth of albino rats on the infant food diet was 15.3 g. as compared with 13.9 g. for a control milk food of a similar composition. A 3 : I blend of infant food and cane sugar promoted a weekly growth rate of 18.1 g. as compared with 16.1 g. obtained for a similar blend of control milk food and sugar. No significant differences were observed in the contents of liver-protein and fat but protein and calcium contents of the carcasses of animals receiving infant food were lower than of those receiving milk food. When incorporated at 20% level (providing about 5% of extra protein) in maize-tapioca diets and at 10% level in rice diets, the food was as effective in promoting growth in rats. However, in the compositions of the liver and carcass there were some significant though inconsistent differences, between the diets on maize-tapioca and rice. The livers of rats receiving the supplement of infant food or milk food were normal, indicating that both the supplements were effective in correcting the protein deficiency in the diets and in preventing liver damage which occurred in the unsupplemented diets.