Vitamin Analysis of a commercial Morinda citrifolia juice and a Popular blackcurrant fruit Juice commonly used by Athletes in Nigeria

摘要

The popular blackcurrant fruit juice was used as a placebo drink in a double-blind study because it has similar colour, flavor and taste as the commercially available Morinda citrifolia juice . The trial compared the ergogenic properties of both drinks. Morinda citrifolia and placebo juices were subjected to vitamin analysis using standard methods. Results of vitamin analysis of Morinda citrifolia showed substantial amounts of vitamin C and moderate amount of vitamin A. In this study, t he vitamins profiles of Morinda citrifolia juice revealed the presence of medicinally important constituents and vitamins. Vitamin C content of Morinda citrifolia juice was 28.69 mg/100ml and that of placebo drink was 15.40 mg/100ml while the vitamin A contents of Morinda citrifolia juice and placebo drink were 2.71 mg/100ml and 1.11 mg/100ml respectively. It indicates that the Morinda citrifolia juice contains vital vitamins (C and A). Vitamin analysis shows that Morinda citrifolia juice has higher vitamin contents than the placebo juice. The findings of this present study has shown that the sampled Morinda citrifolia juice and placebo drink are potential dietary source of vitamin C, vitamin A, alpha-carotenes, beta-carotenes and total carotenes. However, it showed that in terms of concentration, vitamin C is the major vitamin present. The results in this study indicate that Morinda citrifolia juice would improves endurance in athletes very probably via potent antioxidant effects.