Nutritional and anti-nutritional evaluation of three edible insects consumed by the Abeokuta community in Nigeria

The use of edible insects as a remedy to malnutrition and protein deficiency is increasingly gaining attention. This study evaluated the nutritional composition of three edible insects: winged termite (Macrotermes bellicosus Smeathman) and rhinoceros beetles (Oryctes monoceros Olivier and Oryctes boas Fabricius), which are of priority among the community of Abeokuta, Nigeria. Proximate and anti-nutritional analyses of the insects were done using standard methods while minerals and heavy metal analysis were done using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Crude fat, protein and carbohydrate contents were found to be higher in M. bellicosus. O. boas had the highest in ash content. The insects were rich in mineral contents, with higher concentrations of sodium and potassium recorded in the three insects compared to other mineral elements tested: magnesium, calcium and iron. Oryctes boas had the lowest mean concentrations of all the minerals except calcium. Values of anti-nutritional properties recorded were very low (below 0.54%). The findings revealed that all the edible insect species are highly nutritive with non-toxic levels of anti-nutritional properties, and thus can play a major role in food and nutritional security of people.