Comparative Study of Nutrient Composition of Selected Cereal Grains Available in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Grains are the seeds of grass-like plants called cereals. Grains contain important nutrient necessary for human health. Consumption of grains and grain foods is encouraged in dietary guidelines around the world because of the significant contribution of the nutrient content of grains. The present work aims to compare the general nutrient composition of selected seventeen grains available in Jaffna, Sri Lanka to consider them as excellent candidates for consumption. Proximate macronutrient content of the seeds of selected grains were estimated by nutrient content analysis according to the standard protocols recommended by the Association of Analytical Chemists (AOAC), the USA at the Department of Botany, University of Jaffna and compared the general nutrient composition among cereal grains. Grain varieties have moisture contents varied from 3.70% to 14.42%, ash contents varied from 0.66% to 5.52%, fat contents ranged from 2.80% to 52.93%, protein contents varied from 7.44% to 48.47%, and carbohydrate contents varied from 12.39% to 68.58%. Black gram has the highest moisture content (14.42%), soya has the highest ash (5.52%) and protein content of 48.47% while sesame has the highest fat content (52.93%). Among the entire samples, soya possesses some desirable nutritional attributes than other grains with respect lower fat and carbohydrate and greater protein (48.47%) and ash content (5.52%).