HOME > EDICIONES > Año 2004, Volumen 54 - Número 3
Trabajos de Investigación
Caracterización nutricional de los carbohidratos y composición centesimal de raíces y tubérculos tropicales cocidos, cultivados en Costa Rica
Adriana Blanco-Metzler 1, Juscelino Tovar 2, Mireya Fernández-Piedra 1
Instituto Costarricense de Investigación y Enseñanza en Nutrición y Salud (INCIENSA) 1, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Central de Venezuela 2
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SUMMARY
Nutritional characterization of carbohydrates and proximal composition of cooked tropical roots and tubers produced in Costa Rica
Tropical roots and tubers (TRT) are important staple foods in the tropics. TRT are produced by small farmers and have received only limited attention. The objective of this paper was to evaluate nutritionally important carbohydrate fractions and proximal composition of cooked cassava (Manihot esculenta), cocoyam -or tannia- (Xantosoma sp) and yam (Dioscorea alata) grown in Costa Rica. Twenty boiled samples of each TRT were analyzed for proximal composition, following AOAC protocols. Carbohydrate fractions (dietary fiber, available and resistant starch) and a-amylolysis rate were assessed by enzymatic methods. All TRT analyzed consisted mainly of water and carbohydrates, representing moderate dietary fiber and energy sources. They show a low protein level and contain no fat. Moisture, protein, ashes and dietary fiber contents vary significantly (p < 0.01) among the three species. In terms of their proximal composition, these locally grown TRT differ from TRTs cultivated in the South Pacific area, but appear similar to other Latin American varieties. In all samples most of the dietary fiber (84-88%) is insoluble; available starch ranges between 74 and 84% of the dry matter, whereas resistant starch content varied between 0.7 and 1.7%. Amylolysis rate was similar for cassava and cocoyam, whereas a significantly slower digestion (p<0.01) was recorded for yam. Compared to values reported in the literature for other starchy foods and to gelatinized potato starch, used as reference sample, the studied TRT showed intermediate amylolysis rates. It is concluded that consumption of these TRT may be promoted in Costa Rica and other countries with a similar nutritional situation.
Key words: Tropical roots and tubers, cassava, cocoyam, yam, chemical composition, nutritive value, carbohydrates, starch, dietary fiber, Costa Rica.
Recibido: 18/02/2004
Aceptado: 16/06/2004
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PRIVACIDAD | ACCESIBILIDAD
ALAN-VE ISSN 0004-0622 - Depósito Legal: pp 199602DF83
Sociedad Latinoamericana de Nutrición
Producción editorial en Venezuela: Capítulo Venezolano - RIF: J-30843129-0
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