Evaluation and Impact of Niger Seed Fortified Cookies on Hemoglobin Level of School Children

Abstract

Nutritional micro-nutrient deficiency is a public health problem in children and pregnant women in developing countries. Micronutrients are also available in food and can provide through direct supplementation. In this study aims to investigate the hemoglobin level of school-going children (age 6-10 years) randomly selected for the study. The present study works on supplemented cookies made with roasted niger seed powder on twenty-five subjects for 90 days. The selected group was supplemented daily with four serving and 30% of niger seed cookies for 90 days. No other supplementation was given to the anemic subjects.

The mean hemoglobin was found in the experimental group on 0 days (9.78) to 90 days (10.6). A significant difference was found in the mean of hemoglobin, respectively. The developed cookies were found to acceptability and efficacy as an iron supplement in combating mild to moderate iron deficiency anemia, which is reflected in the results.