The present research, entitled « Nutritional and dietetic potentiality of ants and winged ants on sale at the market of Lubumbashi/DRC »; aims at making available scientific information related to insects sold in the city of Lubumbashi: Case of ants and winged ants (Makalo and Inswa respectively in a local language).
The analysis of these sample reveals:
- 4,95 % fats (Ants) and 39,8 % (winged-ants);
- 40,2 % and 35,6 % proteins respectively for ants and winged-ants.
Winged ants are richer in mineral elements than ants in decreasing order Mn, Ca, Na, Mg, Fe.
Edible insects thus show some potentialities:
- They contain highly digestible proteins;
- They are tender and without collagens;
- Toxicity risks and fermentation could be discarded.
- They may contain a good proportion of polysaturated fat acids.
From what precedes, edible insects are particularly useful in dietetic therapy for food dietary of pathologies which need elimination or reduction of the consumption of meat, proteins and/or that of saturated fat.