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Iron food supplement
1Department of Foods and Nutrition, Post Graduate and Research Centre, College of Home Science, Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, India. mousmeesood@yahoo.com
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A locally developed, iron-rich laddoo supplement significantly improved hemoglobin levels in undernourished school children. The supplement showed efficacy in combating iron deficiency anemia within 30 days.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Iron deficiency anemia is a prevalent health issue among children in low-income families.
- Undernutrition is widespread in school-aged children, impacting overall health and development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create an iron-rich food supplement using accessible local ingredients.
- To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this supplement in school children aged 7-9 years.
Main Methods:
- Selected 36 children with low hemoglobin (Hb) levels (below 11 g/dl) from a low-income school.
- Developed a laddoo supplement using jaggery, rice flakes, garden cress, and amaranth seeds.
- Administered one laddoo daily for 60 days to an experimental group and assessed Hb, height, and weight.
Main Results:
- 97% of children were undernourished, with most in Grade II malnutrition.
- Significant increase in hemoglobin levels observed within the first 30 days of supplementation.
- No significant improvement in height and weight was noted.
Conclusions:
- The developed iron-rich laddoo supplement effectively increased hemoglobin levels.
- The supplement shows promise in combating iron deficiency anemia in vulnerable child populations.
- Further research may explore optimizing the supplement for broader nutritional benefits.
Objective:
To develop an iron rich supplement with locally available foods and to test its feasibility in school going children (7-9 Years) belonging to low income families.
Methods:
From the upper primary school in Rajendranagar 7-9 year-old children were screened for hemoglobin (Hb) levels and 36 children having Hb levels below 11 g/dl were selected. Based on their Hb levels, age, and gender, 24 children were grouped as experimental and the rest as control. A supplement food (laddoo) was developed using locally available foods like jaggery, processed rice flakes, graden cress seeds and amaranth seeds (45:40:10.5). In the experimental group, children were given one laddoo per day for a period of 60 days. Effect of supplement on Hb levels, height and weight was assessed.
Result:
Anthropometric parameters showed that 97% of these children were undernourished, majority (50%) were in grade II malnutrition followed by grade (25%) and grade II (22%). A significant increase in Hb levels was observed in both the boys and girls after 30 days of supplementation only. The increase was comparatively more in the first 30 days than the second 30 days. The overall increase in Hb levels was more in 7-8 years than the 8-9 years age group. In majority of the subjects progression from one Hb level to the next higher level was observed. There was no significant improvement in their height and weight.
Conclusion:
The product developed contributed around 39-mg% iron. Thus its efficacy as an iron rich supplement in combating iron deficiency anemia is reflected in the results obtained.