Digestibility and utilization of protein and energy from Nasha, a traditional Sudanese fermented sorghum weaning food.

Whole grain sorghum flour was fermented into Nasha, a traditional Sudanese food, and freeze-dried or drum-dried. It was cooked and fed to convalescent malnourished infants and small children as 61% of total diet calories and all of 6.4% protein calories, with (Lys+) and without lysine supplementation to 3% of protein. Apparent absorptions of nitrogen were 73 +/- 5 and 74 +/- 6% of intake, significantly (P less than 0.01) less than those from preceding (Cas-1, 86 +/- 3%) and following (Cas-2, 85 +/- 3%) isonitrogenous casein diets. Apparent retentions of nitrogen from Nasha (26 +/- 10%) were significantly lower than those from Lys + (34 +/- 9%, P less than 0.05), Cas-1 (35 +/- 11%, P less than 0.01) or Cas-2 (49 +/- 9%, P less than 0.01). Retentions from Cas-2 were higher than those from Cas-1 or Lys + (P less than 0.01). Fecal wet and dry weights were higher (P less than 0.02) during both Nasha diets and Cas-2 than during Cas-1. Fecal energy and carbohydrate were significantly (P less than 0.01) higher from either Nasha diet than from either casein diet; fecal fat was not different. Two children received drum-dried Nasha without further cooking; digestibilities were not different from those of the cooked product but biological value was much lower. When properly cooked and consumed along with small amounts of a good source of lysine, Nasha is a satisfactory weaning food.