Therapeutic impact of garden cress seeds incorporated ladoo among the selected anaemic adolescent girls (12-15 years)

Abstract

Adolescents are the important segments of the global population. Their well being and the active participation are the fundamental needs for the development of the society. Nutritional problems of adolescent girls are common throughout the world. Iron deficiency anaemia is one of the global health problems which affect the people of all age groups. Particularly adolescent girls are more vulnerable to anaemia. Hence, iron supplementation is highly necessary to combat anaemia. So, the present study was carried out to assess the therapeutic impact of garden cress seed ladoo among the selected anaemic adolescent girls of the age group 12-15 years. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Government Ethical clearance committee. Screening for anaemia was conducted by assessing the haemoglobin level of the 505 adolescent school girls. From that, 200 moderately anaemic adolescent girls (each 100 in the Experimental Group and the Control Group) were chosen for further study. Assessment of nutritional status was carried out among the selected subjects. Haemoglobin status (biochemical assessment) of the selected subjects was assessed through cyanomethymoglobin method both prior and after the supplementation. Clinical examination was carried out with the help of a physician.

A ladoo of fifty grams containing garden cress seeds (5g), rice flakes (20g), bajra (5g), roasted Bengal gram dhal (5g), samai (5g) and 10g of jaggery was supplemented along with 5 grams of amla to 100 selected moderately anaemic adolescent girls in the Experimental Group for a period of 6 months. The ladoo contained 10 mg of iron. Deworming was done prior to the supplementation. Both deworming and supplementation was not given to the Control Group. After 6 months of supplementation, improvement was observed in the clinical signs of the Experimental Group. The haemoglobin level (g/dl) gradually increased from 8.67±0.59 to 12.43±0.70. There was no specific change in the Control Group.

Keywords: Anaemia, adolescent, garden cress seeds, haemoglobin, clinical assessment