Queen C Adeoye-Agomoh¹*, Ogechi C Nzeagwu² and Happiness C Ezenwa³

¹Doctor of Community and Public Health Nutrition, Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Food Sciences and Tourism, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State
²Professor of Community and Applied Nutrition, Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Food Sciences and Tourism, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State
³Doctor of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Food Sciences and Tourism, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State

*Corresponding Author: Queen C Adeoye-Agomoh, Doctor of Community and Public Health Nutrition, Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Food Sciences and Tourism, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State.

Received: February 24, 2025; Published: March 21, 2025

Abstract

Under nutrition and micro nutrient deficiencies continue to be a problem worldwide, particularly in developing economies. Economic losses caused by post- harvest losses are heavier than is generally realized because fresh fruits deteriorate in unit value from the field during harvest to the consumer. This study evaluated the mineral and vitamin compositions of freshly produced juices from African wild black plum (Vitex doniana) and star fruit (Averrhoa carambola). The fruits were collected from the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu farm, and a compound in Umuokpara, Umuahia South LGA, Abia State, respectively. The V. doniana fruits were sorted, washed, peeled and the pulp was scooped out and processed while the seeds of the carambola were removed before processing into juice. The juices were produced from 100% V. doniana, 100% A. carambola, and their blends (75/25%, 50/50%, and 25/75%). Control (Orange/Mango juice (UC) used was purchased from commercial stores. Minerals and vitamins compositions of the juice was evaluated using standard procedures. Mineral analysis showed that the control juice had higher sodium (13.52 mg/100g ), potassium (87.82 mg/100g ), phosphorus (15.36 mg/100g ), calcium (12.62 mg/100g ), copper (770 μg/100g ), iron (3.42 mg/100g ), magnesium (14.36 mg/100g ), and zinc (0.76mg/100g) values compared to the blended juices with sodium: VCU 2 (9.83 mg/100g ), potassium: VCU 2 (46.81 mg/100g ), phosphorus: VCU 2 (8.22 mg/100g ), calcium: VCU 2 (8.62 mg/100g ), copper: VCU 2 (390 μg/100g ), iron: VCU 2 (2.17 mg/100g ), magnesium: VCU 2 (11.29 mg/100g ), and zinc: VCU1 (0.29mg/100g). However, the V. doniana-A. carambola (VC) juices recorded higher vitamin C levels (VCU 1:25.31) than the control, while the control had higher beta-carotene (VCU1:3600μg/100g and B-complex vitamins (B1, VCU 1: 1.87mg/100g, B2, VCU1:0.94mg/100g, and B3, VCU1: 4.29mg/100g). In conclusion, the freshly produced VC juice showed significant nutritional benefits, particularly in vitamin C content, although mineral levels were higher in the control juice.

Keywords: Vitex doniana; Averrhoa carambola; Minerals; Vitamins; Juice

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Citation

Citation: Queen C Adeoye-Agomoh., et al. “Assessment of Micronutrients Composition in Juice Produced from African Wild Black Plum (Vitex doniana) and Star Fruit (Averrhoa carambola L.)".Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 9.4 (2025): 48-58.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Queen C Adeoye-Agomoh., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.