Comparative nutritional analysis of foxtail millet and rice: a case for millet as a superior alternative

Abstract Millets have emerged as a viable crop option in this evolving environmental context. However, replacing commonly grown cereals with millets requires a comparative understanding of their nutritional quality. This study aims to compare the nutritional quality of the commonly grown rice (Oryza...

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Main Authors: Diksha Kalita, Premia Taifa, C. Nickhil, Nirmali Gogoi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-06-01
Series:Discover Food
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00421-7
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author Diksha Kalita
Premia Taifa
C. Nickhil
Nirmali Gogoi
author_facet Diksha Kalita
Premia Taifa
C. Nickhil
Nirmali Gogoi
author_sort Diksha Kalita
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Millets have emerged as a viable crop option in this evolving environmental context. However, replacing commonly grown cereals with millets requires a comparative understanding of their nutritional quality. This study aims to compare the nutritional quality of the commonly grown rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety Ranjit (RR) with a foxtail millet variety (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauvais), Gossaigaon local (GL). Proximate analysis revealed lower moisture and carbohydrate content (12.17% and 59.98%) in GL grains compared to RR (15.20% and 73.43%). However, GL had significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) ash, protein, crude fiber, and crude fat content (1.59%, 3.13%, 8.68%, and 3.08%, respectively) than in RR. Additionally, significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) amylose content (5.83%) was observed in GL than in RR. The mineral content analysis revealed significantly higher levels (p ≤ 0.05) of Na (78.6%), Zn (56.6%), Mg (14.13%), Mn (146.72%), Ca (21.03%), K (42.98%), and Fe (141.48%) compared to Ranjit rice. Whereas Cu (46.35%) and Ni (110.22%) levels were higher in Ranjit. Gossaigaon local documented a significantly higher total phenolic content (1.5 times) than Ranjit. Similarly, the total flavonoid content of GL exceeded RR by 40 mg QE/100 g. However, the DPPH radical scavenging activity in both of the cereal grain samples exhibited no significant difference. In conclusion, this study suggests that GL can be a nutritionally superior substitute for RR, commonly grown in the Northeastern part of India.
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spelling doaj-art-54d9618f1d9f4c9d85b8f3fe625817a02025-08-20T02:37:14ZengSpringerDiscover Food2731-42862025-06-015111110.1007/s44187-025-00421-7Comparative nutritional analysis of foxtail millet and rice: a case for millet as a superior alternativeDiksha Kalita0Premia Taifa1C. Nickhil2Nirmali Gogoi3Environmental Plant Physiology and GHG Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur UniversityEnvironmental Plant Physiology and GHG Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur UniversityDepartment of Food Engineering and Technology, Tezpur UniversityEnvironmental Plant Physiology and GHG Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur UniversityAbstract Millets have emerged as a viable crop option in this evolving environmental context. However, replacing commonly grown cereals with millets requires a comparative understanding of their nutritional quality. This study aims to compare the nutritional quality of the commonly grown rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety Ranjit (RR) with a foxtail millet variety (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauvais), Gossaigaon local (GL). Proximate analysis revealed lower moisture and carbohydrate content (12.17% and 59.98%) in GL grains compared to RR (15.20% and 73.43%). However, GL had significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) ash, protein, crude fiber, and crude fat content (1.59%, 3.13%, 8.68%, and 3.08%, respectively) than in RR. Additionally, significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) amylose content (5.83%) was observed in GL than in RR. The mineral content analysis revealed significantly higher levels (p ≤ 0.05) of Na (78.6%), Zn (56.6%), Mg (14.13%), Mn (146.72%), Ca (21.03%), K (42.98%), and Fe (141.48%) compared to Ranjit rice. Whereas Cu (46.35%) and Ni (110.22%) levels were higher in Ranjit. Gossaigaon local documented a significantly higher total phenolic content (1.5 times) than Ranjit. Similarly, the total flavonoid content of GL exceeded RR by 40 mg QE/100 g. However, the DPPH radical scavenging activity in both of the cereal grain samples exhibited no significant difference. In conclusion, this study suggests that GL can be a nutritionally superior substitute for RR, commonly grown in the Northeastern part of India.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00421-7AmyloseAntioxidantCrude fatCrude fiberDPPHFlavonoid
spellingShingle Diksha Kalita
Premia Taifa
C. Nickhil
Nirmali Gogoi
Comparative nutritional analysis of foxtail millet and rice: a case for millet as a superior alternative
Discover Food
Amylose
Antioxidant
Crude fat
Crude fiber
DPPH
Flavonoid
title Comparative nutritional analysis of foxtail millet and rice: a case for millet as a superior alternative
title_full Comparative nutritional analysis of foxtail millet and rice: a case for millet as a superior alternative
title_fullStr Comparative nutritional analysis of foxtail millet and rice: a case for millet as a superior alternative
title_full_unstemmed Comparative nutritional analysis of foxtail millet and rice: a case for millet as a superior alternative
title_short Comparative nutritional analysis of foxtail millet and rice: a case for millet as a superior alternative
title_sort comparative nutritional analysis of foxtail millet and rice a case for millet as a superior alternative
topic Amylose
Antioxidant
Crude fat
Crude fiber
DPPH
Flavonoid
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-025-00421-7
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AT cnickhil comparativenutritionalanalysisoffoxtailmilletandriceacaseformilletasasuperioralternative
AT nirmaligogoi comparativenutritionalanalysisoffoxtailmilletandriceacaseformilletasasuperioralternative