Kitti Sranacharoenpong

Dietary assessment of refugees living in camps: A case study of Mae La Camp, Thailand

This study presents data on consumption patterns, methods of food procurement, and adequacy of dietary intake among Burmese refugee camp households living along Thailands border with Burma. Households established for one or more years and with children under 15 years of age were sampled. A questionnaire was used to determine economic, food-consumption, and dietary intake patterns; foods consumed were weighed and measured using a 24-hour recall for the household unit; and nutritional status was determined by a Microtoise tape and digital standing scales. In total, 182 households containing 1,159 people were surveyed. The average household energy and protein intakes were 96.6% and 111.4%, respectively, of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for healthy Thais. Twelve percent of protein was derived from animal sources. Carbohydrate, protein, and fat accounted for 84%, 9%, and 7% of total energy, respectively. The intake of vitamins A, B1, B2, and C and of calcium ranged from 24.2% to 53.1% of the RDA. Iron intake was 85.3% of the RDA, derived mainly from rice, fermented fish, mung beans, green leafy vegetables, and eggs. Ration foods supplied 60.5% to 98.18% of all nutrients consumed in the households, with the exception of vitamins A and C. Among children under five years of age, 33.7% were underweight, 36.4% were stunted, and 8.7% were wasted. Although the refugees were able to procure some nonration foods by foraging, planting trees and vegetables, raising animals, and purchasing and exchanging ration foods for other items, the quantity and quality were not sufficient to compensate for the nutrients that were low or lacking in the ration. The overwhelming majority of dietary nutrients were provided by ration foods, and although the ration and the overall diet may be adequate for short-term subsistence, they do not suffice for long-term survival and optimal growth, especially for younger children.

The Effect of Coconut Jelly with Stevia as a Natural Sweetener on Blood Glucose, Insulin and C-Peptide Responses in Twelve Healthy Subjects

BACKGROUND Coconut jelly is a popular dessert among Asian people. However, it contains high levels of sugar. The recent patents on steviol glycoside (WO2015014969A1), steviol glycoside compositions for oral ingestion or use (WO2017095932A1) and sweetener composition for preventing and improving obesity, containing glycolysis inhibitor ingredient (EP2756764B1) help to select the sweetener for development of coconut jelly. OBJECTIVE Therefore, the purposes of this study were to develop a healthier coconut jelly formula by using stevia as a natural sweetener as well as to investigate the short-term effects of Modified Coconut Jelly (MCJ) compared to Control Formula (CCJ) consumption on glycemic and insulin responses in twelve healthy participants. METHODS The sensory evaluation found that MCJ with 50% sugar replacement using stevia obtained the highest acceptability score compared to other formulas. In a cross-over design, participants were required to consume MCJ and CCJ containing 50 g of available carbohydrates. Blood samples were collected at 0 (baseline), 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes for postprandial blood glucose, insulin, and C-peptide. RESULTS The incremental Areas Under the Curve (iAUC) of blood glucose and insulin of MCJ had a lower trend than CCJ by 15.7 and 5.4 percent, respectively. MCJ consumption had blood glucose slowly decline after 60 to 120 minute. MCJ tended to decrease in postprandial blood glucose level without inducing insulin secretion. CONCLUSION This might be an effect of stevia. Nutrient composition is lower in total sugar and higher in fiber, which has been reported as antihyperglycemia in humans. Therefore, MCJ might be an optional food product for healthy people or patients with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes mellitus.