Nutritional and Anti-nutritional Trade-offs among Elite Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Genotypes Revealed by Multivariate Analysis

Background: Sorghum is a climate-resilient staple crop in sub-Saharan Africa with significant nutritional potential, though its utilization is constrained by variability in grain quality and the presence of anti-nutritional factors. Aims: To evaluate nutritional and anti-nutritional variability among elite sorghum genotypes and identify lines with superior profiles for enhanced food and nutrition security. Study Design and Location: A laboratory-based experimental study conducted at the University of Nairobi, Department of Food Science and Technology, from January to April 2021. Methodology: Ten elite sorghum genotypes were analyzed for proximate composition (protein, moisture, fat, fibre, carbohydrate, and energy) and anti-nutritional factors (total phenolic compounds and oxalates) using standard AOAC methods. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine relationships among traits. Results: Significant genotypic differences (p < 0.05) were observed for protein, energy, fibre, carbohydrate, phenolic, and oxalate contents, while moisture and fat showed no significant variation. Protein content ranged from 4.20% to 12.85%, and energy values from 334.31 to 361.53 kcal/100 g. Total phenolic content was strongly negatively correlated with carbohydrate (r = −0.929, p < 0.01) and protein (r = −0.596, p < 0.05), but positively correlated with fibre (r = 0.539, p < 0.01) and oxalates (r = 0.836). Conclusion: Substantial nutritional variability exists among elite sorghum genotypes, with clear trade-offs between macronutrient content and anti-nutritional factors. Genotypes with high protein and moderate phenolic levels show strong potential for nutrition-sensitive breeding and targeted deployment in sorghum-based food systems, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.