چکیده (انگلیسی):

Cereals were classified according to origin and major producing area, and their nutritional composition compared. Data from researches on nutritional composition of cereals were compiled, categorised and compared. African Cereals (AC) were found to be richer than NAC in all the amino acids covered in this study except in lysine and tyrosine. AC have lower fat, higher carbohydrate and ash contents though acha and oat were observed to have the highest ash contents in this study. Among the cereals in this study, acha, was observed to be the richest in sulphur amino acids, aromatic amino acid, threomine and tryptophan; acha and finger millet were observed to be exceptionally the richest in calcium while teff has the highest magnesium and zinc content. Non-African Cereals (NAC) were found to be richer than AC in protein and fibre content though pearl millet was observed to have comparable protein content. NAC were found to be richer than AC in manganese, phosphorus, potassium and sodium with wheat having the highest phosphorus and sodium contents. The copper content of pearl millet and the manganese content of wheat were observed to be unhealthily higher than their RDAs. B-vitamins were observed to be higher in NAC while barley and oat were observed to be better sources of thiamine and riboflavin among the cereals studied.