EFFECT OF IRON AND VITAMIN C FORTIFIED CANDIES ON THE IRON STATUS OF EARLY TEENAGER

Abstract: Iron deficiency anemia is the most nutrition problem in teenager period. One possible strategy to prevent iron deficiency anemia in this group is the fortification of favorite food as candy. So, this study was designed to know the effect of iron and vitamin C fortified candies on the iron status of teenager aged 10-16 y. The female teenager were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups: A fortified group with iron (n = 20), fortified group with vitamin C (n = 20 ) and a control group (n = 20). Candy was given to the teenager every day for 12 wk, 5g (1 piece). The candy given to the fortified group contained 1 mg elemental Fe ( Ferric hydroxide) /g candy and 1 mg vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) / g candy . The results showed that the hemoglobin concentration of the fortified groups increased to 10.6 g/L and 11.2g/L in group 3 and from 10.6 to 12.8 in group 2 whereas that of the control group was 10.6 g/L. Anemia decreased from 50.9 % at the control group to 8.8% in group 2 and 13.3 in group 3 after 12 wk (P ≤0.05) and, the serum ferritin concentration was lower in the control group than the fortified groups with iron and vitamin C (P ≤0.05). From these results, it could be recommended that Iron and vitamin C fortified candies were effective for improving the iron status of teenager aged 10-16y and might be a good way to decrease iron deficiency in teenager of low-to-middle income groups. - See more at: http://www.journalijar.com/article/7371/effect-of-iron-and-vitamin-c-fortified-candies-on-the-iron-status-of-early-teenager./#sthash.FRpZ4RJ9.dpuf