Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Characteristics of Coconut Water from Different Varieties and Its Potential as Natural Isotonic Drink

Abstract

Coconut water is known as a nutritious natural drink. It is not only considered functional, but also nutraceutical. Coconut water is widely used as isotonic drink or oral rehydration fluid, since it showed excellent rehydration index and blood glucose response in previous researches. The quality of isotonic drink is determined by its sugar content (as the source of carbohydrate) and electrolyte content. Moreover, its organoleptic properties should be able to stimulate the urge to spontaniously drink more. However, the processing of coconut water into isotonic drink usually applies ultra high or very low temperature which might deteriorate its nutrition value and organoleptic properties, causing the needs to use a considerable amount of food additives. There are plenty varieties of coconut in Indonesia, each produces different characteristics of coconut water. The objectives of this research are to compare the carbohydrate-electrolyte characteristics of coconut water, and also other essential characteristics from several varieties and to determine which variety is closest to the quality standard of isotonic drink. Therefore, isotonic drink can be developed with only minimum food additives.  We compared Dalam Pangandaran, Genjah Salak and Hybrid PB121. The characteristics observed were total sugar, sucrose, glucose, fructose, potassium, sodium, magnesium, vitamin B1, vitamin B6 and vitamin C content, as well as pH, total soluble solids, clarity and colour. Coconut water obatined from Genjah (Dwarf) variety showed the more suitable characteristics for the development of isotonic drink. Thus the product can be developed by cold sterilitation process with minimum food additives.