Content of minerals and antinutritional factors in moin-moin (steamed cowpea food)

Moin-moin (steamed cowpea food; MM) is one of the most popular local dishes in Bahia-Brazil. The present study was carried out to improve the knowledge of type of cowpea used in the preparation of moin-moin and its influence on mineral content and antinutritional factors. MM samples were collected from 30 out of the sales points located in the city of Salvador-Bahia. The mineral contents of MM showed a wide variation: K: 917.4 ± 166.2 mg 100 g-1 DM, P: 400.0 ± 59.8 mg 100 g-1 DM, Mg: 97.9 ± 16.4 mg 100 g-1 DM, Ca: 94.0 ± 70.4 mg 100 g-1 DM, Fe: 57.3 ± 16.9 µg g-1 DM, Zn: 22.4 ± 4.2 µg g-1 DM, Cu: 6.3 ± 3.3 µg g-1 DM, Mn: 6.0 ± 2.8 µg g-1 DM and V: 4.3 ± 2.0 µg g-1 DM. AF in MM were: 0.60 ± 0.77 µmol g-1 DM (InsP4); 1.34 ± 1.07 µmol g-1 DM (InsP5); 4.77 ± 3.53 µmol g-1 DM (InsP6); 1.69 ± 0.03 mg eq. CE g-1 DM (tannins); 6.37 ± 0.12 mg g-1 DM (polyphenols). Fe bioavailability might be negatively affected. Information on cowpea cultivars used for MM preparation was obtained from a structured questionnaire. ‘Olho de Pombo’ showed the highest concentrations for AF and minerals. MM was identified as a good source of minerals.   Key words: Antinutritional factors, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), crude palm oil, minerals, moin-moin.