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Pakistan Journal of Nutrition

Year: 2012 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 6 | Page No.: 547-552
DOI: 10.3923/pjn.2012.547.552
A Comparative Study and Determination of Glycemic Indices of Three Yam Cultivars (Dioscorea rotundata, Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea domentorum)
N.C. Ihediohanma, N.C. Onuegbu, A.I. Peter-Ikechukwu and N.C. Ojimba

Abstract: The Glycemic Indices (GI) of three yam cultivars commonly consumed in Nigeria were studied. The yam cultivars were white yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir), water yam (Dioscorea alata) and three-leaved yam (Dioscorea domentroum). Five normal (healthy) volunteers participated in the study. GI was determined using a standard method with glucose as the reference food. Fifty (50) gram available carbohydrate portions of the yam cultivars were analyzed for proximate composition and dietary fiber by enzymatic-gravimetric method. The mean IAUCs (glycemic responses) for the test foods and glucose ranged from 863.5-3642.84 and were significantly different. Expectedly, glucose had the highest glycemic response of 3642.84. The mean IAUC for white yam, water yam and three-leaved yam were 2386.50, 863.50 and 1929.08 respectively. The GI of white yam (67) and three-leaved yam (56) were significantly higher than that of water yam (24). It was concluded that white yam and three-leaved yam are intermediate or medium glycemic food, whereas water yam is a low GI food.

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How to cite this article
N.C. Ihediohanma, N.C. Onuegbu, A.I. Peter-Ikechukwu and N.C. Ojimba, 2012. A Comparative Study and Determination of Glycemic Indices of Three Yam Cultivars (Dioscorea rotundata, Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea domentorum). Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 11: 547-552.

Keywords: White yam, water yam, three-leaved yam, glucose, glycemic index, glycemic Response(s) and IAUC

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