NUTRITIONAL PARAMETERS OF "MATE COCIDO" WITH MILK PREPARED FROM TWO SPECIES OF ILEX AND ITS COMMERCIAL MIXTURE, FOR THE SCHOOL AGE POPULATION

MAIOCCHI MARCOS G.; SERRANO, NATALIA A.; DEL VITTO LUIS; CARDOSO-SCHIAVI, PAULINA; PETENATTI ELISA; CORRALES, LORENA; MARCHEVSKY EDUARDO

Merlo - San Luis

Otro; XXXV REUNIÓN ANUAL DE LA SOCIEDAD DE BIOLOGÍA DE CUYO; 2017

SOCIEDAD DE BIOLOGÍA DE CUYO

The 1.5% infusion of "yerba mate" (Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil., Aquifoliaceae) (Ip) added with whole milk (50:50 v/v) (M) and refined sugar (S) is the "mate cocido con leche" (MC+M+S), a popular food in South America and the dietary supplement offered to school children (3-13 y/o) in Argentina. The objective was to evaluate the nutritional value of a partial substitution of Ip by low-caffeined I. dumosa Reissek (Id), that presented in the market in mix (Id: Ip 70:30 w/w). The applied methods were HPLC, ICP-OES and various IRAM determinations. The ingestion of a double daily serving of MC+M+S provides high energy and carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, biotin and essential minerals (Mn, P, Zn, Cu, Ca, Mg, Na, Cl, K, Fe and Al), with low cholesterol. The MC+M+S from Ip contains caffeine in a quantity similar to that of the tea infusion (Camellia sinensis) and 1/2 to 1/3 of the coffee. The caffeine content of the Id: Ip mix is 3 times lower than that of Ip and tea, and 10-20 times lower than that of the coffee; the substitution of Ip by the aforementioned mix maintains nutritional values in the MC+M+S and lowers the caffeine levels. This allows a greater consumption throughout the day, without reaching the daily limits of xanthine intake for the age group (40-100mg day-1), favoring intellectual and physical performance of schoolchildren without harmful effects. Nutritional values are included in food limits. Heavy metals are not infused or far below harmful values.