Evaluation of anti anemic prospective of natural iron sources in lactating women- an ignored important segment of Pakistani population

Muhammad Abdullah,Zaheer Ahmed,Shahid Mahmood

doi:10.1590/fst.05020

Muhammad Abdullah, Zaheer Ahmed + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/fst.05020

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Abstract

Abstract Almost entire segment of expecting and breastfeeding mothers in Pakistan are severely affected by iron deficiency anemia (IDA) with predictable prevalence of 50% and as severe public health problem in lactating mothers, has worldwide pervasiveness. Commonly used synthetic iron sources provoke complications. Thus, food sources are preferred due to high bioavailability and sustainability. The present study was done on various natural and synthetic iron sources evaluated for proximate composition, mineral matter, sensory attributes and storage stability. The treatments were fed for 90 days and their efficacy was tested among anemic lactating women. The blood samples of 862 women were taken to examine their hemoglobin level and pertinent biomarkers. Hence, 37.00% volunteers were found to be anemic (Hb < 11 g/dL) and 67.71% women showed IDA problem. Finally, 200 volunteers were strewn arbitrarily into 4 groups. All treatments provided 50% RDA of iron. Dietary intakes and biochemical investigations of T2 group showed momentous improvement (P < 0.05) while linear variations were recorded in anthropometrics, liver function tests (LFTs) and renal function tests (RFTs). Study revealed that food iron sources are easily accessible, cheaper, safe and has more bioavailable iron in skirmishing IDA among lactating women on sustained basis.

Highlights

Anemia is a condition in which blood hemoglobin level is reduced from normal concentration (Hb < 11 g/dL in lactating women) and it hinders the supply of oxygen to blood which badly distress mother and child health, newborn development, working competence, astuteness and earning power of employment span (Sathyamala, 2017)
The current study focused the important ignored segment of lactating women in Pakistan while considering cheap, available, abundant and waste material of sugar industry such as blackstrap molasses
This study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki and all procedures involving human subjects/patients were approved by the Departmental Review Committee for Ethics (DRCE), Institute of Home and Food Sciences (IHFS), GC University, Faisalabad vide letter no

Summary

Introduction

Anemia is a condition in which blood hemoglobin level is reduced from normal concentration (Hb < 11 g/dL in lactating women) and it hinders the supply of oxygen to blood which badly distress mother and child health, newborn development, working competence, astuteness and earning power of employment span (Sathyamala, 2017). Anemia affects one third of adult population and more than 2 billion inhabitants on the globe It occurs among females of childbearing age because menstrual cycle, pregnancy, child birth and lactation increase iron requirements of body (Kassebaum et al, 2010). Entire segment of expecting and breastfeeding mothers in Pakistan are seriously affected by IDA and probable incidence of this malady among women of childbearing age is fifty percent. Due to this reason, maternal and child mortality rate is high in Pakistan. Synthesis of Hb and red blood cells will not occur if iron supply is inadequate (Milman, 2011)

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