Pumpkin Seed Flour and Its Micro-Nutrient Levels

This work was aimed at evaluating the potential of pumpkin seed flour in enhancing the vitamin A and iron levels of maize flour. Vitamin A content of maize flour alone was not sufficient to meet the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for the infants, children, males, females, pregnant and lactating mothers. However, the mixtures of pumpkin seed flour and maize flour in the ratios of 1:1, 2:1 and 4:1 had enough vitamin A to meet the RDAs of such groups of people, implying that the pumpkin seed flour enhanced the vitamin A composition of maize flour. The iron content in a mixture of pumpkin seed flour and maize flour in the ratio of 4:1 was found to meet the RDAs of infants, children, males, females, pregnant and lactating mothers. Iron content of maize flour alone could not meet the RDAs of any of the above groups of people, implying that the pumpkin seed flour enhanced the iron content of maize flour. Sensory evaluation results of porridge and meal prepared from maize flour alone and a mixture of pumpkin seed revealed that the formulation of pumpkin seed flour and maize flour in the ratio of 4:1 respectively is the most acceptable for both porridge and meal.