Comparative Study of the Physicochemical Characteristics of High-Protein Gruels Adapted to the Nutritional Management of Malnourished Patients with or without Fistula
Malnutrition constitutes a major public health problem, particularly among hospitalized patients presenting complex conditions such as digestive fistulas. The objective of this study was to formulate and characterize two high-protein gruels (F1 and F2) based on local resources: maize, soybean, rice, pumpkin seeds, and caterpillars (Imbrasia truncata), suited to the nutritional management of malnourished patients with or without fistula. The raw materials were purchased in the markets of Brazzaville. The composite flours were produced by blending base flours obtained through established technological processes, then subjected to physicochemical analyses (moisture, protein, lipids, carbohydrates, ash, fiber, energy value, pH, titratable acidity, fat acidity, water activity) and functional analyses (water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, solubility index, swelling capacity, density, viscosity). The results show that both formulations exhibit high protein contents (39.66% ± 0.93% for F1 and 37.85% ± 0.06% for F2), high lipid contents (11.52% ± 0.60% for F1 and 17.80% ± 0.33% for F2), and energy values (421.67 ± 0.46 kcal/100g for F1 and 443.56 ± 0.22 kcal/100g for F2) above 400 kcal/100g, along with low moisture (below 12%) and water activity below 0.6, ensuring good storage stability. Formulation F1 stands out for its higher protein content, suited to fistula patients, whereas F2, richer in lipids and energy, is better suited to the progressive refeeding of severely malnourished patients. The prepared gruels show a Bostwick consistometer flow of 5.0 to 5.5 cm/30s, corresponding to a semi-thick consistency whose suitability for patients with swallowing disorders should be assessed against the IDDSI framework. These gruels represent a locally available, economically accessible, and technologically suitable nutritional alternative for therapeutic use in hospital or community settings.
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