Macroelements Content in Nougat, A Traditional Spanish Sweet

Sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium contents were measured in a total of 66 nougat samples, 33 being Alicante nougat and 33 Jijona. At the same time, the two qualities established by regulation have been taken into account: Supreme and Extra. Potassium in Supreme quality is above 300 mg/100 g as purchased, sodium is around 20 mg/100 g as purchased. In Extra quality, these values are slightly lower and potassium still is the one in majority, with 264.3±9.0 mg/100 g, and sodium is found in a lower proportion, with 12.4±2.8 mg/100 g. Calcium and magnesium are also found in significant quantities both in this quality as in Supreme, with values for both categories above the ones found in Jijona nougat. Furthermore, a variance analysis (Student- t) shows that the two types of nougat are different, (P -value <0.05), in relation to potassium, calcium and magnesium contents in the Supreme quality. In the Extra quality, the two types of nougat have different contents of sodium, calcium and magnesium, P=0.009, 0.000 and 0.000, respectively.