Acceptability Analysis and Nutritional Quality of a Nutri-Dense Iron Rich Supplement

Abstract

Adolescence is a period of life with specific health and developmental period predictably understood as the years between the onset of puberty and the formation of social independence and is the period where the maximum amount of physical, psychological and behavioral changes takes place. Anaemia is considered as one of the major health problems all over the world. Among adolescent female the prevalence of anaemia is found to be 35.1 per cent. The overall nutritional status of adolescent females is affected due to anaemia. Due to the increased nutritional needs the development of healthy eating habit is important at the age of adolescence. The present paper aims at highlighting the, acceptability analysis and nutritional quality of a nutridense iron rich supplement. The area selected for the study was Coimbatore. The schools that falls under the north taluk was identified and one school among them was selected for the conduct of the study using convenient sampling female pre-adolsecent between the age group 11-13 years were selected for the conduct of the study. Using standard tools demographic profile, anthropometric, clinical examination and dietary pattern were assessed. Iron rich ladoo was prepared using sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, jaggery, raisins and groundnut were selected as they are rich in iron, protein and also low in cost. Total of five variations of ladoo were prepared. Acceptability analysis of all the five variation of ladoo was tested for its organoleptic characteristics using five point rating scale. The mean acceptability score was calculated. As a result, by the mean scores, variation II was highly acceptable and it was considered for nutrient analysis. Also the cost analysis of the variations showed that it was cheap and costed Rs.5 per serving and hence it can be affordable iron supplement for all the groups.