Abstract
Selected traditional Nigerian diets: Garri with afang soup, pounded yam with edikang ikong
soup and ekpang nkukwo alongside a reference diet, plantain with beans porridge, were
investigated for their efficacy for use in management of diabetes mellitus. The proximate
composition of the diets was analysed using standard methods and thereafter fed to
alloxanized rats for 15 days, while monitoring the changes in weight and blood glucose.
Fasting blood glucose (FBG) results was significantly reduced (p<0>
upon feeding garri with afang soup (25.61%) and pounded yam with edikang ekong soup
(25.19%) relative to the diabetic control (5.19%). These reductions compared well with the
reference diet, although its extent of glycaemic control was higher (37.22%). Body and
relative liver weight changes over the period animals received the traditional diets were not
significantly different (p>0.05) from that of the reference diet. Whereas the proximate
composition components including crude proteins, fibre, ash and carbohydrate were not
significantly different (p>0.05) compared to the reference diet; only crude fat and hence
caloric value was significantly higher (p<0>
traditional diets. From the results of this investigation, it is clear that the traditional diets
studied can be effective in glycaemic control, hence could serve as effective substitutes for plantain with beans, usually recommended by health care givers.
