Micronutrient Composition of the Most Appreciated Complementary Flours Formulated With the Under-Valorized Local Resources in the Far North Region, Cameroon

Malnutrition is a threat to the society as a whole. The incorporation of under-valorized local resources into children’s diet could be a solution to combat micronutrient deficiencies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the micronutrient composition of complementary flours formulated with the under-valorized local resources. Cricket, tiger nuts, carrots, melon fruit, sweet potato tubers, and baobab fruit pulp were collected in the Far North Region of Cameroon. These biological materials underwent preliminary processing. Complementary flours were formulated with varying amounts of crickets and tiger nuts’ flours added to the constant amount of baobab fruit pulp and sweet potato or carrot tuber or melon fruit pulp flours to obtain 100 g of flour per formula. The total carotenoids, vitamin A, vitamin C, mineral contents, and antinutritional factors of the ingredients and complementary flours were determined using standard methods. The total carotenoids, vitamin A, vitamin C, and mineral contents of the ingredient and formulated flours varied significantly (p < 0.05). In general, complementary flours with 20% of cricket (C₂₀T₄₀B₁₀M₃₀, C₂₀T₄₀B₁₀P₃₀, and C₂₀T₄₀B₁₀Cr₃₀) were rich in micronutrients. The flour with 20% of cricket, 40% of tiger nuts, 10% of baobab fruit pulp, and 30% of carrot (C₂₀T₄₀B₁₀Cr₃₀) presented the highest calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, vitamin A, and vitamin C contents, whose values were 186.43, 158.98, 2275.4, 385.86, 380.04, 6.50, 1.64, 5.06, 6.012, and 93.007 mg/100 g, respectively. Complementary flour with 30% of melon (C₂₀T₄₀B₁₀M₃₀) presented the highest iron (40.65 mg/100 g) and sodium (476.89 mg/100 g) contents. On the other hand, C₂₀T₄₀B₁₀Cr₃₀ flour had the lowest phytate (92.07 mg/100 g) and oxalate (42.47 mg/100 g) contents. In addition, this flour presented the highest iron and zinc bioavailability. These complementary flours especially C₂₀T₄₀B₁₀Cr₃₀ can be used to reduce micronutrient deficiencies in children.