Effect Of Fortified Complementary Food On The Nutritional Status Of Pre-School Children

Fortification process enhances the nutritional quality of foods. After fortification of cereal with other foods it will capable for better nourishment of children. Fortification process is the addition of one or, more essential nutrients to a food for the purpose of preventing or correcting deficiency of one or more nutrients in the population or specific population groups and provide health benefits. Malnutrition is widely prevalent among infant and pre-school children belonging to low income groups of the population. Pre-school age (16years) is the time of rapid physical growth as well as physiological immunological and mental development. During this year nutritional requirements are at the highest and deficiency of energy or any other essential nutrients can have dire consequences, some of which one long lasting and adverse impact on health status of the children. During infancy period nutritional requirement can be totally satisfied by breast milk. Afterwards supplementary foods need to be introduced to augment energy and protein. Supplementary foods one therefore, transitional foods consumed between the times when the diet is composed exclusively of mother's milk and after six month the time when it is mostly made up of family foods. During the time they are consumed, supplementary foods make up a large proportion of the preschoolers diet and contribute a significant amount of the nutrients that are necessary for growth and development. Among pre-school age children, the most prevalent forms of nutrient deficiencies are those of protein energy, iron, calcium and iodine. The severity of deficiencies, the consequences of malnutrition, include growth stunting, wasting susceptibility to infections, behavioral changes and learning disabilities. Micronutrient deficiencies, reduce children's learning ability and school performance (Jukes et.al.2002). Based on research findings by clugston et.al. (1987), it is estimated that 3% of babies born to iodine-deficient women suffer from cretinism and 10% suffer from severe mental retardation. A meta-analysis of 20 studies demonstrated that in endemic iodine-deficient communities, the IQ of children is reduced by about 13 points. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a risk factor for mortality from measles, diarrhea and dysentery and this likely explains the strong effect. Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) occurs during the transitional phase when children are Abstract: Fortification process in the addition of one or more essential nutrients to a food enhances the nutritional quality and provide health benefits and capable for nourishment of children. Malnutrition and under nutrition widely prevalent among infant and pre-school age children belonging to low income groups of population. The study is an attempt to develop the enriched supplementary food product for pre-school children based on cereal, pulses and oilseeds. 100 children (1-6 years) were selected from selected slum areas of Ranchi town with simple random sampling method. The food product Barfi was prepared and supplemented among the children which was accepted among the children. Result shows that enriching the food increases the nutrient content and easily acceptable among children helpful to overcome malnutrition. There is very much need to impart training and nutrition among mother about enriching preparation of supplementary foods for children.