Nesamvuni, C. N.Jideani, V. A.Akinmoladun, Oluwaseun Funmi2026-02-032026-02-032025-09-05Akinmoladun, O.F. 2025. Formulation and nutrient composition of ready-to-use therapeutic food with Glycine max, Vigna subterranea, Sorghum bicolor and Moringa oleifera leaf as micronutrient premix. . .https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/3144PhD, PHNDepartment of Human Nutrition and DieteticsThe growing population number of malnourished under-five children across the globe requires immediate nutritional intervention. The standard peanut- and milk-based ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) commonly deployed for managing severe acute malnutrition is expensive and not easily accessible in the rural areas where it is needed most. However, this intervention should be cheap, readily accessible, nutritionally dense, have an extended shelf life, and not require further preparation. Therefore, the study aimed to formulate and profile the nutritional content of a ready-to-use therapeutic food with Glycine max, Vigna subterranea, Sorghum bicolor, and Moringa oleifera (MO) leaf powder as a micronutrient premix. The objectives were firstly to develop a ready-to-use therapeutic food from local base ingredients, including Sorghum, Bambara groundnut, soybean, and Moringa oleifera leaf powdered (MOLP) micronutrient premix with the aid of linear programming (LP) tool. Secondly, the study investigated the acceptability of the developed RUTFs, including colour (L*, a*, b*, H*, C*) measurements and focus group discussion by mothers and caregivers. It also evaluated the nutritional profile, including the proximate, antinutrient, minerals, and microbial assessment of the newly developed and/or formulated RUTFs, as the third objective. The final objective assessed the in vitro digestibility, including protein, starch, and amino acid profile of the formulated RUTFs. In the first objective, six RUTFs, based on different combinations of each of the base ingredients, were generated by LP: soybean (11.73%, 14.25%, 20%, 25.34%, 22.88%, 20%), Sorghum (29.11%, 28.93%, 24.35%, 15%, 15%, 21.66%), Bambara groundnut (15%, 10%, 10%, 10%, 15%, 15%), vegetable oil (27.11%, 26.82%, 25.64%, 26.66%, 27.12%, 25.34%) and sugar (17%, 20%, 20%, 23%, 20%, 18%). Eighteen RUTFs were produced, where each RUTF was composited with the three levels of micronutrient premix (3% MOLP alone, 3% standard RUTF alone, and a mixture of MOLP and standard RUTF at 1.5% each). Following proximate analysis, eight of the eighteen RUTFs met the minimum requirements for protein (14-16%) and energy (520-550 kcal) and were selected for pre-sensory analysis. Based on the overall acceptability score from the pre-sensory trial, five (RUTFs 1,2,3,4 and 5) of the eight RUTFs were rated higher and selected for further analysis and of nutrient composition in subsequent chapters. In objective two, the sensory analysis revealed that RUTFs 3 and 4 were highest (p<0.05) in appearance and aroma, while RUTFs 2 and 4 were highest (p<0.05) in taste and texture. The colour attributes revealed L*, a* and b* to be highest (p<0.05) in RUTF 3 and decrease through RUTFs 4 and 5 to RUTFs 1 and 2. Some of the comments by the caregivers and nursing mothers involved in the acceptability trial include, 'I would buy it if it were affordable, and I do not have a problem with the colour; after all, we all eat vegetables'. Regarding their RUTF knowledge, the comment was, 'They are used for children who are not well nourished, especially underweight'. In chapter five, the proximate analysis revealed that all the RUTFs have similar moisture and fibre content. While RUTFs 1,2,3 and 5 had identical crude protein and energy, RUTF 5 had the highest (p<0.05) crude fat. RUTF 3 had the highest (p<0.05) in most macro and micro minerals. This was closely followed by RUTFs 5,4,1 and 2. While aflatoxin remains undetected in all the RUTFs, RUTFs 3 and 4 had a much higher (p<0.05) phytate and trypsin than other RUTFs. The microbial assessment revealed 'no growth' for mould, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, while 'absent' was reported for Listeria monocytogenes. Other microbial loads had <10 counts. In the final objective, the predicted that glycaemic index was similar for the five RUTFs. However, RUTFs 2 and 4 had the highest (p<0.05) but similar hydrolysis index and in vitro protein digestibility. The total essential amino acids were similar in RUTFs 1,3 and 5. The study showed that LP can be used to develop ready-to-use therapeutic food with a nutritional composition comparable to the WHO standard RUTF. Based on the ease of acceptability and mineral profile, RUTF 3, formulated with standard RUTF, seems the best. Closely followed are either RUTF 4 or 5. In conclusion, even though these RUTFs are yet to be clinically tested, developing a ready-to-use therapeutic food from Sorghum, Bambara groundnut, and soybean with MOLP could provide easily accessible but nutrient-dense nutrition therapy for managing severe acute malnutrition in children under five. Ethics were considered for the acceptability study. The University of Venda Research Ethics Committee granted certification.1 online resource (xvi, 164 leaves): illustrationsenUniversity of VendaAcceptabilityFormulationLinear programmingMalnutritionNutrient compositionReady-to use therapeutic foodThesisAkinmoladun OF. Formulation and nutrient composition of ready-to-use therapeutic food with Glycine max, Vigna subterranea, Sorghum bicolor and Moringa oleifera leaf as micronutrient premix. []. , 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from:Akinmoladun, O. F. (2025). <i>Formulation and nutrient composition of ready-to-use therapeutic food with Glycine max, Vigna subterranea, Sorghum bicolor and Moringa oleifera leaf as micronutrient premix</i>. (). . Retrieved fromAkinmoladun, Oluwaseun Funmi. <i>"Formulation and nutrient composition of ready-to-use therapeutic food with Glycine max, Vigna subterranea, Sorghum bicolor and Moringa oleifera leaf as micronutrient premix."</i> ., , 2025.TY - Thesis AU - Akinmoladun, Oluwaseun Funmi AB - The growing population number of malnourished under-five children across the globe requires immediate nutritional intervention. The standard peanut- and milk-based ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) commonly deployed for managing severe acute malnutrition is expensive and not easily accessible in the rural areas where it is needed most. However, this intervention should be cheap, readily accessible, nutritionally dense, have an extended shelf life, and not require further preparation. Therefore, the study aimed to formulate and profile the nutritional content of a ready-to-use therapeutic food with Glycine max, Vigna subterranea, Sorghum bicolor, and Moringa oleifera (MO) leaf powder as a micronutrient premix. The objectives were firstly to develop a ready-to-use therapeutic food from local base ingredients, including Sorghum, Bambara groundnut, soybean, and Moringa oleifera leaf powdered (MOLP) micronutrient premix with the aid of linear programming (LP) tool. Secondly, the study investigated the acceptability of the developed RUTFs, including colour (L*, a*, b*, H*, C*) measurements and focus group discussion by mothers and caregivers. It also evaluated the nutritional profile, including the proximate, antinutrient, minerals, and microbial assessment of the newly developed and/or formulated RUTFs, as the third objective. The final objective assessed the in vitro digestibility, including protein, starch, and amino acid profile of the formulated RUTFs. In the first objective, six RUTFs, based on different combinations of each of the base ingredients, were generated by LP: soybean (11.73%, 14.25%, 20%, 25.34%, 22.88%, 20%), Sorghum (29.11%, 28.93%, 24.35%, 15%, 15%, 21.66%), Bambara groundnut (15%, 10%, 10%, 10%, 15%, 15%), vegetable oil (27.11%, 26.82%, 25.64%, 26.66%, 27.12%, 25.34%) and sugar (17%, 20%, 20%, 23%, 20%, 18%). Eighteen RUTFs were produced, where each RUTF was composited with the three levels of micronutrient premix (3% MOLP alone, 3% standard RUTF alone, and a mixture of MOLP and standard RUTF at 1.5% each). Following proximate analysis, eight of the eighteen RUTFs met the minimum requirements for protein (14-16%) and energy (520-550 kcal) and were selected for pre-sensory analysis. Based on the overall acceptability score from the pre-sensory trial, five (RUTFs 1,2,3,4 and 5) of the eight RUTFs were rated higher and selected for further analysis and of nutrient composition in subsequent chapters. In objective two, the sensory analysis revealed that RUTFs 3 and 4 were highest (p<0.05) in appearance and aroma, while RUTFs 2 and 4 were highest (p<0.05) in taste and texture. The colour attributes revealed L*, a* and b* to be highest (p<0.05) in RUTF 3 and decrease through RUTFs 4 and 5 to RUTFs 1 and 2. Some of the comments by the caregivers and nursing mothers involved in the acceptability trial include, 'I would buy it if it were affordable, and I do not have a problem with the colour; after all, we all eat vegetables'. Regarding their RUTF knowledge, the comment was, 'They are used for children who are not well nourished, especially underweight'. In chapter five, the proximate analysis revealed that all the RUTFs have similar moisture and fibre content. While RUTFs 1,2,3 and 5 had identical crude protein and energy, RUTF 5 had the highest (p<0.05) crude fat. RUTF 3 had the highest (p<0.05) in most macro and micro minerals. This was closely followed by RUTFs 5,4,1 and 2. While aflatoxin remains undetected in all the RUTFs, RUTFs 3 and 4 had a much higher (p<0.05) phytate and trypsin than other RUTFs. The microbial assessment revealed 'no growth' for mould, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, while 'absent' was reported for Listeria monocytogenes. Other microbial loads had <10 counts. In the final objective, the predicted that glycaemic index was similar for the five RUTFs. However, RUTFs 2 and 4 had the highest (p<0.05) but similar hydrolysis index and in vitro protein digestibility. The total essential amino acids were similar in RUTFs 1,3 and 5. The study showed that LP can be used to develop ready-to-use therapeutic food with a nutritional composition comparable to the WHO standard RUTF. Based on the ease of acceptability and mineral profile, RUTF 3, formulated with standard RUTF, seems the best. Closely followed are either RUTF 4 or 5. In conclusion, even though these RUTFs are yet to be clinically tested, developing a ready-to-use therapeutic food from Sorghum, Bambara groundnut, and soybean with MOLP could provide easily accessible but nutrient-dense nutrition therapy for managing severe acute malnutrition in children under five. Ethics were considered for the acceptability study. The University of Venda Research Ethics Committee granted certification. DA - 2025-09-05 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - Acceptability KW - Formulation KW - Linear programming KW - Malnutrition KW - Nutrient composition KW - Ready-to use therapeutic food LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2025 T1 - Formulation and nutrient composition of ready-to-use therapeutic food with Glycine max, Vigna subterranea, Sorghum bicolor and Moringa oleifera leaf as micronutrient premix TI - Formulation and nutrient composition of ready-to-use therapeutic food with Glycine max, Vigna subterranea, Sorghum bicolor and Moringa oleifera leaf as micronutrient premix UR - ER -