Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES : Food-to-food fortification (FtFF) is gaining traction as a strategy to enhance nutritional
value of cereal-based foods. Sorghum, a major food crop for millions in the semi-arid tropics lends itself to such
FtFF efforts. Such food-to-food fortified (FtF fortified) foods also contain bioactive phenolics with healthpromoting
properties in relation to potential protection against diet-related non-communicable diseases
(NCDs) whose prevalence is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, the effects of extrusion cooking of
sorghum-based porridges FtF fortified with baobab fruit powder and moringa leaf powder on antioxidant, antiinflammatory,
antidiabetic and anti-lipogenic properties were determined.
FINDINGS : FtFF porridges showed higher phenolic content (phenolic acids and their esters, flavonoids and their
glycosides) and greater radical scavenging properties and reduction in advanced glycation end products (AGEs)
compared to unfortified porridges. Extruded instant porridges had lower phenolic content, radical scavenging
properties and showed less reduction in AGEs compared to conventionally wet-cooked porridges. All porridges
exerted antioxidant effects in Caco-2 cells and FtFF inhibited nitric oxide (NO) formation in RAW 264.7 cells.
Extracts from all porridge samples exhibited prevention and reduction of adipocyte formation in 3 T3-L1 cells,
indicating anti-lipogenic effects.
CONCLUSION : FtFF (with moringa and baobab) and extrusion cooking can be used to produce instant porridges from
wholegrain sorghums with targeted health-promoting properties to address rising non-communicable diseases in
sub-Saharan Africa.
SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY : This study highlights the potential of FtFF with tropical plant foodstuffs to improve
health-promoting properties of cereal wholegrain-based starchy staple foods.
