Proximate, Amino Acid Compositions and Functional Properties of Maize-Beans Composite Flours

The aim of the study was to determine the nutritional and functional properties of beans-maize flour samples. Flour blends were produced using 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 50:50 (maize: beans, w/w) while 100% maize served as the control. The proximate composition results were: moisture content (8.99-7.65%), crude protein (6.93-14.00%), carbohydrate (63.75-75.64%), total ash (0.97-2.62%), crude fat (6.95-11.11%) and crude fiber (0.51-0.87%). Functional properties results obtained were: water absorption capacity (1.75-1.90 g/g), oil absorption capacity (1.33-1.53 g/g), swelling capacity (1.66-1.36 mL/g), least gelation concentration (15.00-4.50%), bulk density (1.54-1.67 g/mL), foaming capacity (51.00-80.83%) and foaming stability (8.28-19.01%). The substitution of maize flour with beans had significant improvements in the mineral and amino acid compositions of the composite flours. Generally, there was an improvement in the nutritional and functional properties as the level of beans supplementation increased. It was concluded that the addition of beans flour to maize flour enhanced the nutritional and functional properties of the composite flours.