Proximate, mineral and fatty acids composition of sugar ant (Componotus consubrinus) from Paikoro Local Government, Niger state, Nigeria.

Abstract

The proximate, minerals and fatty acids composition of sugar ant (Coponotus consubrinus) was conducted. The results showed that it contained high amounts of protein 31.86±0.24%) with moisture, ash, crude fibre, crude fat, carbohydrate levels and energy level being 2.95±0.09%, 4.24±0.11%, 6.49±0.87%, 13.29±0.39%, 41.16±1.55% and 1733.07±0.21KJ/ 100g respectively. The insect was found to be a good source of minerals which contained high proportions of Na, K, P, Ca, Zn and Fe as 121.45±0.45, 83.40±0.45, 107.87±1.50, 18.60±0.58, 15.53±1.03, 15.13±2.64 and 98.27±2.08mg/100g respectively. The results of fatty acids compositions revealed that sugar ant contain 1.08% TUFA/TSFA ratio which indicated that, this insect have lowest desirable level of cholesterol with reduced coronary heart problem. The results of this finding revealed that, this insect could serve as an alternative source of protein, crude fat, carbohydrate and essential minerals needed for a well balanced nutritional diet for humans and as a feed supplement.