[The use of a multimix as a dietary supplement: study in rats]

A Multimistura (MM)--sweet cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) leaf flour, wheat bran (Tritium aestivum L.), egg shell powder, pumpkin (Cucurbita Spp) and sunflower (Heliantus annus) seed flours--was added to a mixture of Beans, 7% (Phaseolus vulgaris) and Rice, 3% (Oryza sativa) and its effects, were assessed in weanling, male albino (Wistar) rats (n = 60). Animals were divided into 6 groups: groups 1, 2 and 3 were fed beans + rice + multimixture (B + R + MM), beans + rice (B + R) and 10% Casein, respectively; the remaining groups were maintained on a protein-free diet (PFD) for 14 d and then submitted to the same feeding protocol. Microbiological assays were performed in all MM samples. The Coefficient of Digestablity (CD), the Food Efficiency Ratio (FER), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), Net Protein Utilization (NPR), serum hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht), carcass total lipids were determined. Rats had their liver, brain, gonads, testes, spleen and left kidney removed for wet dry weights. Liver samples were histologically examined. The Mann-Whitney test was used. The protein content of B + R diet increased slightly after MM addition (0.23 g/100 g). Three out of four MM samples had moulds and yeasts. CD values were 90% and 70% for casein and B + R + MM-fed rats, respectively. The highest values for FER, PER and NPR were seen in the casein-fed rats without protein depletion. The casein-fed group had heavier organs (wet and dry weights) and higher values for carcass fat and serum Hb and Ht. Steatosis was present in both groups, with or without protein depletion. Short or long-term MM consumption, at least under our experimental conditions, had no significant effects on investigated parameters.