Snake Fruit Seeds Flour-Fortified Jelly for Supplementary Feeding in Adolescent Girls with Anemia

Abstract

Anemia still becomes a public health problem over the world. Adolescent girls are one of the most suspectible groups who suffer anemia and have significant impacts on their health and study achievement. Fortification with high Fe natural ingredients is commonly used to overcome anemia in public setting. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of snake fruit seed flour (SSF) on body weight (BW) and BMI/age of adolescent girls with anemia. A total of 20 adolescent girls participitated in this study and randomly divided in control group and treatment group. They received 3 × 100 g jelly/week for 8 weeks. BW and BMI/age was measured in day 0, 30, and 60. Collected data were analyzed using paired t-test and ANOVA and p value < 0.05. Average of BW in control group was higher than in treatment group but it was not statiticaly different (p = 0,374). Average of BMI/age in control group was higher than in treatment group but it was not statiticaly different (p = 0,348). Administration of SSF does not influence BW and BMI/age in adolescent girls with anemia. Further investigation is required to verify wether or not SSF contains high carbohydrate and fibers.