A study to compare the effectiveness of gooseberry juice with honey and guava juice with honey among iron deficiency anaemic adolescent girls using physiological and clinical parameters

Abstract

Adolescence is marked by a rapid phase of growth and development newlineduring which the requirement of nutrition and micronutrients is relatively high. newlineHence, adolescents, especially girls, are vulnerable to iron deficiency. The newlinehighest prevalence is between the ages of 12-15 years when requirements newlineare at a peak. In all Member States of the South-East Asia Region, except newlineThailand, more than 25% of adolescent girls are reported to be anaemic, in newlinesome countries the prevalence is as high as 50%. In India the prevalence of anaemia among adolescent girls were 56% newlineand this amounts to an average 64 million girls at any point in time [Aguayo newlineVM et al ,2013). Anaemia is the major public health problem among newlineadolescent girls of age 10-19 years. The reasons for high incidence of newlineanaemia among the adolescent girls are increased requirement during growth newlinespurt, menstrual loss, low intake of iron rich food, erratic eating habits.The adverse effect of iron deficiency anaemia differs according to the newlineage group. Example in case of pregnancy it can cause haemorrhage and shock and increase the risk of maternal and fetal mortality. In case of school newlinegoing children the concentration and intellectual skills are affected. In the newlinepresent study, investigator has selected gooseberry and ripe guava fruit to newlineprovide vitamin C (ascorbic acid) because it is locally available than any other newlinesources and also it has high value of vitamin C (600mg in 100gm of newlinegooseberry and 300 mg in 100gm of guava) and honey for iron supplement. newlineAlso during the review of literature the investigator came across many studies newlineon synthetic ascorbic acid and iron absorption .Only few studies are a natural newlineascorbic acid and iron absorption. This gave insight to the investigator to newlinestudy the effect of gooseberry juice and guava juice on iron absorption. newline