Evaluation of plant-based nutritional supplements prepared from underutilized crops

Abstract:

Regional context: across much of Sierra Leone, Moringa, Bambara groundnut, Amaranthus, Adansonia digitata, and Sphenostylis stenocarpa grow within easy reach of rural households, yet none of these underutilized crops has been developed into a nutritional supplement product accessible to the communities that already cultivate or forage them, a gap this research set out to begin closing. Five plant-based nutritional supplement formulations were developed, one from each underutilized crop alone or in simple blend, and evaluated for nutrient density, production cost, and consumer acceptability among 60 rural household participants. An Adansonia digitata-fortified blend recorded the highest nutrient density score, driven primarily by exceptional vitamin C and calcium content, while a Moringa-soy blend recorded the strongest overall combination of nutrient density and consumer acceptability relative to its production cost, making it the most balanced candidate among the five formulations tested. Ingredient-level nutrient matrix analysis showed no single underutilized crop excelling across all measured nutrients simultaneously, with Moringa leaf powder contributing disproportionately to protein and calcium, Adansonia digitata fruit pulp dominating vitamin C contribution, and Sphenostylis stenocarpa contributing most strongly to dietary fiber. Production cost varied considerably across formulations, with the Amaranthus-quinoa mix carrying the highest relative cost due to processing complexity, while the Bambara groundnut supplement offered the lowest cost per unit of nutrient density delivered. These findings support Moringa-soy and Bambara groundnut-based formulations as the most immediately practical candidates for community-scale supplement production, given their favorable balance of nutrient contribution, cost, and consumer acceptability, while highlighting Adansonia digitata fortification as a valuable targeted addition where vitamin C and calcium deficiency are specific local concerns.