ISSN 2375-0723
African Journal of Food Science Research ISSN 2375-0723 Vol. 7 (12), pp. 001-007, December, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Essential elements content in core vegetables grown and consumed in Ghana by instrumental neutron activation analysis
D. K. Adotey1,2, Y. Serfor-Armah1,2, J. R. Fianko1,2 and P.O. Yeboah 1
1Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box AE 1, Atomic-Accra, Ghana.
2Department of Chemistry; National Nuclear Research Institute; Ghana Atomic Energy Commission; P.O. Box LG 80, Legon-Accra, Ghana.
Accepted 10 June 2019
Abstract
Food is the primary source of essential nutrients for man. Vegetables are essential part of the Ghanaian diet; therefore the nutritional status of vegetables is of importance. Vegetables that constitute an esse-ntial part of the Ghanaian diet have been analyzed for essential elements content (Ca, Mg, K, Co, Br, Mn, and Na) using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). The purpose of the study was to design a nutrient database of the core vegetables grown and consumed in Ghana and in addition to ascertain the content of the essential elements in the vegetables. The accuracy of the method was verified by analysis of a compositionally appropriate reference material, IAEA -359 (CABBAGE). The results of the study revealed the presence of Br, Ca, Co, K, Mg, Mn, and Na in all the five vegetables studied. Ca, Mg, and K were present in the g/kg range in all five vegetables. The content of Na, Mn, Co and Br was in the mg/kg range in all five vegetables investigated.
Key words: Vegetables, Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, Elemental concentration, Ghana.