Spirulina Program Antenna India ,MaduraiTN

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Spirulina A Solution to micronutrient
deficiencies in children particularly 0-5 years

• Spirulina Program Antenna India
  , Madurai(TN)
• Selvendran Duraikkannan

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Rationale

• The reason for the micronutrient deficiencies
  are
• Lack of diversity
• No cost effective supplement
• Inadequate awareness to Pregnant mothers
• No proper awareness to the mothers of children
• 0-5yrs.

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Objective

• To improve and to reach RDA of micronutrients in
  malnourished children.
• To supplement Iron, Vitamin-A and Zinc rich
  Spirulina in natural and cost effective manner to
  the children of low income families.

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Materials and Methods

• WHO confirmed
• Spirulina is able to be administered to children
  with out any risk and consider it a very suitable
  food.
• (United Nations World Health Organization ,
  Geneva , Switzerland June 8 th , 1993).
• Antenna Indias contribution is
• To produce Spirulina locally in a cost
  effective manner with the aim to combat
  malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.

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Spirulina

• Arthrospira Platensis

• Blue Green Algae-Cyanobacteria
• Aquatic
• Microscopic (apx 350µm)
• Multi cellular

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Essential Micronutrients in SpirulinaD
Average percentage value mentionedRef 1.
Braunwald E, Fauci A, Kasper D cols. Harrison
15th Ed. Principles of Internal Medicine.
McGraw-Hill Med.Pub.Div.20012. Document official
OMS. Aspects sanitaires et nutritionnels des
oligo lements en traces. Eds. OMS Geneve.
1997.
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Antennas SPIRULINA FEEDING PROGRAMS

• Selection of a village, schools
• Awareness to staffs Parents (mainly to
  mothers)
• Selection of malnourished children (3-5year old)
• Distribution of Spirulina fortified chikkies (1
  gm Spirulina / child / day)
• Period Children are fed from 6 months to one
  year time

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STEPS INVOLVED IN SPIRULINA CHIKKI
PRODUCTIONSPIRULINA - PRODUCTION
TANKS HARVESTING- SPIRULINA
FROM TANK SPIRULINA - WET
SLURRYCOLLECTING DRIED SPIRULINA
SPIRULINA -
FLAKES GRINDING -
SPIRULINA FLAKES
SPIRULINA POWDER
CHECKING - SPIRULINA QUALITY
SPIRULINA INCORPORATED CHIKKI

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Spirulina supplementation at less than a rupee
per child(0-5 yrs) per day

• Spirulina Chikkies distribution to children

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Spirulina Studies on child nutritionin ICDS
Madurai.

•  SPIRULINA-A NUTRITION BOOSTER
• Study paper Presented in 7th world congress on
  clinical nutrition
• By Professor Dr.N.Edwin MD,DCH and Dr.Thinakarvel
  
• (Madurai Medical College,Madurai-20 TN,India)
• Children were given 1 gram spirulina per day for
  continuous six weeks has shown significant
  results .
• Clinical improvement
• anthropometry blood hemoglobulin,serum proteins,
  serum total iron and iron binding capacity, serum
  ferritin and serum retinol were estimated before
  and after the study.

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Remarkable health benefits of SPIRULINA

• 1 to 2 grams - reduces Iron deficiency anemia
  significantly.
• ß-carotene overcome sufficiently eye defects
  caused by VAD.
• Zinc - combats zinc deficiency disorders.
• Easily digestible and absorbable protein food for
  malnourished children.
• According to recent clinical trials cognitive
  ability of children is improving.

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Results and conclusion

• Substantial improvement in child health can be
  achieved by
• Supplementation of 1-2gram Spirulina and
  equivalent fortified Spirulina products to the
  children (0-5yrs).

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Spirulina in Antennas Experience

• natural, cost effective supplement to correct the
  micronutrient deficiencies among the children.
• to promote it for export markets is not helping
  to combat malnutrition.
• Can be supplemented to malnourished children
  through government feeding programs(ICDS).

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Thanking youFor more information

• www.antennaindia.org
• www.antenna.ch