Abstract
The objective of this paper was to evaluate zinc and protein feed levels of Anadara granosa flour substitution and its effect of feed on serum albumin and body weight of a malnourished rat (Rattus norvegicus). This study comprised two stages: 1) analysis of protein and zinc level of the feed, and 2) feed test on rat using separate sample pre–test and post-test control group design. The malnourished rat was treated with dried rice; the dried rice was substituted with 12.5%, 25%, and 50% of Anadara granosa flour. Further, at room temperature, the flour can be kept for six months. This study revealed that the Anadara granosa-substituted feed had zinc levels between 0.999 ppm - 2.296 ppm and protein levels of 14.81% - 26.39%. On the other hand, the non-substituted feed had 0.791 ppm of zinc, and the protein level was 8.46%. Provision of the feed substituted with Anadara granosa flour increased the albumin serum level (p = 0.000) and the bodyweight of malnourished rats significantly (p = 0.002). This study revealed that substitution of Anadara granosa flour in feed could improve the zinc and protein level of the feed, which in turn improved the growth of malnourished rats (as the albumin level and the bodyweight also improved).
Highlights
Malnutrition, especially zinc deficit, is largely found on children in developing countries; in childhood stage, children need a higher zinc intake (Yanagisawa, 2004; Parveen and Dipti, 2016)
The previous studies above serves as the rationale, as the present study aims to evaluate zinc and protein in Anadara granosa flour-substituted feed and the feed’s effect on serum albumin levels and body weight of a malnourished rat (Rattus norvegicus)
Dried rice feed substituted with 25% of Anadara granosa flour had a protein level of 18.74% and zinc 1.151 ppm
Summary
Malnutrition, especially zinc deficit, is largely found on children in developing countries; in childhood stage, children need a higher zinc intake (Yanagisawa, 2004; Parveen and Dipti, 2016). Zinc deficit would influence homeostasis within the biological system (Kaur et al, 2016). A nutrition deficit condition that occurs for a long time might lead to stunting (Chirande et al, 2015; Mardewi et al, 2016). Stunting is one of the prominent health problems in Indonesia as its prevalence is still currently above 20% (Kemenkes, 2018). Provision of zinc supplements is proven to be able to treat stunting (Kusudaryati et al, 2017) since children with stunting have a low level of zinc and albumin serum levels. The administration of Vitamin A with zinc supplements could reduce infection risk and improve the linear growth of children with stunting (Adriani and Wirjatmadi, 2014)
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