Abstract: The study was to determine the concentration of ascorbic acid among the citrus fruits collected from Luwero District so as to find out the quantity of citrus fruits needed to provide recommended daily allowance of ascorbic acid for healthy eating. The study took experimental design. The ascorbic acid content of the juices of four different citrus fruits– Exotic Navel orange, Local Valencia orange, Local Mandarin and Local Kaffir lime was determined iodometrically in order to identify which fruit would best supply the ascorbic acid needed for the body and at what quantity. Results showed that Exotic Navel orange had the highest value of ascorbic acid, 23.37mg/100g, followed by Local Valencia orange, Local Mandarin and Local Kaffir Lime with ascorbic acid concentration of 21.63mg/100g, 20.04mg/100g and 12.01mg/100g respectively. It therefore follows that Exotic Navel orange would supply more ascorbic acid for body need compared to the other three fruits. The quantity of each citrus fruit needed to provide recommended daily allowance of ascorbic acid, 45mg for an adult person, was also determined. For example, it was recommended that consuming one and a quarter of Local Valencia orange every day is enough for an adult person to get the daily recommended amount of ascorbic acid to prevent non – communicable diseases. Taking two and half pieces of Local Mandarin would supply 45 mg of ascorbic acid required for daily need. And consuming one Exotic orange every day is enough for an adult to get recommended amount of ascorbic acid daily. However, about two and a quarter Local Kaffir lime will have to be eaten to meet the same daily requirement of vitamin C for an adult person.
Keywords: Citrus Fruit, Ascorbic Acid, Exotic Navel Orange.
Title: Determination of Amount of Ascorbic Acid in Selected Citrus Fruit Varieties in Luwero District, Uganda
Author: Bageya Godfrey, Otieno A. Charles, Opio Peter, Kirya Mohammed
International Journal of Mathematics and Physical Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-5736 (Online)
Research Publish Journals
