Role of antioxidants for optimum growth among preschool children

Abstract

A double blind interventional study was carried out in three Government Primary Schools to see the changes in growth which revealed the baseline serum level of beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C and zinc for interventional (n=117) group as 5.11 mcg, 307.69 mcg, 0.16 mg, 0.52 mg and control group (n=104) as 5.29 mcg, 330.52 mcg, 0.14 mg and 0.52 mg respectively. The serum level of the same antioxidants after 6 months of feeding a cup of 100ml ice cream, five days a week, fortified with antioxidants in recommended doses in interventional group showed to be 22.64 mcg, 938.27 mcg, 0.96 mg and 1.11 mg (Paired t-test=0.000) whereas the control group having ice cream without anti-oxidants had the serum level as 4.80 mcg, 326.50 mcg, 0.15 mg and 0.53 mg respectively. Impact on growth in inter-ventional group was observed as weight (kg)-(base line-16.24, after intervention-21.36), Height (cm)-(base line-107.24, after intervention-113.91), TSF (mm)-(base line-7.11, after intervention-8.44) and MUAC (cm)-(base line-15.25, after in-tervention-17.66). But in control group the impact on growth was weight (kg)-(base line-16.99, after intervention-18.63), height (cm)-(baseline-108.11, after intervention-109.98), TSF (mm)-(base line-6.99, after intervention-7.23) and MUAC (cm)-(base line-15.86, after intervention-16.10) clearly indicating a higher improvement in growth of the inter-ventional study children. Fortification of staple food stuffs with essential antioxidants is recommended to overcome the deficiency state.