Shashikala Puttaraj

Effect of barley incorporation in bread on its quality and glycemic responses in diabetics

Barley has emerged as a new source of dietary fibre with promising evidence of health benefits, viz. both hypoglycemic and cholesterolemic effects in vivo. In the present study, incorporation of both pearled and whole barley at varying levels (5 to 25%) on the quality characteristics of bread-including physical, rheological and sensory attributes were determined. Further, glycemic responses to, as well as satiety scores of barley containing breads were evaluated in diabetic (NIDDM) subjects. On the basis of key attributes, (viz. loaf volume, texture, taste and flavour), breads having 10% whole barley (WB) flour, or 15% pearled barley (PB) flour were found to be acceptable. Both WB and PB bread resulted in significantly lower postprandial blood glucose than standard white bread. Two hours after the test meal, both the experimental breads showed a higher satiety score than did the white bread. The results reveal that by incorporation of barley at suitable levels, it is possible to formulate breads that woul...

Glycaemic responses to cereal-based Indian food preparations in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and normal subjects

The in vivo glycaemic responses to six cereal-based foods traditionally consumed in South India were evaluated in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and healthy volunteers. All foods contained 50 g carbohydrate and were compared with a 50 g glucose load. Also studied were the in vitro starch digestibility and nutrient composition of the foods. The postprandial responses to the foods at 30, 60 and 120 min were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those to the reference glucose, in both groups. The peak glucose responses for three foods, i.e. chapatti, idli and poori, occurred 60 min postprandially in both groups. The glycaemic index (GI) values ranged from 67 to 90 in NIDDM and from 44 to 69 in healthy subjects with no significant differences within the groups. Significant relationships were observed between peak responses and area under the curve for foods in patients with NIDDM and in vitro rate of starch hydrolysis (r 0.83, r 0.85, P < 0.05). The GI values predicted using in vitro data were found to be similar to the GI values observed in patients with NIDDM. The GI concept is useful for identifying foods in the habitual Indian diet with attributes of the desired glycaemic effect such as delayed peak rise and low area under the curve.

Nutritional Status of Women Employees of Public Sector Electronics Industry Consuming Home and Canteen Food

Abstract Nutritional status of women employed in an electronic industry of both executive Ex-I (n-93) and non-executive Nex-II (n-360) was determined. The sample was drawn from a total of 200 Ex-I and 2135 Nex-II women working in all the 12 divisions. The study was conducted in two stages on women consuming canteen and home food. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric measurements, food intake and energy balance. The results indicated that mean body weight and BMI of canteen food consumers ranged from 56.3 ° 5.3 to 57.8 ° 11.9 and 22.9 ° 5.3 to 27.3 ° 6.8 respectively for Ex-I and Nex-II gps. Majority of canteen food consumers (CF) were found to be overweight and obese by BMI and body fat %. Criteria. Dietary intake of cereals and millets, milk and milk products, fats and oils, sugar and jaggery were found to be higher particularly in Nex-II CF group compared to the desirable dietary pattern (DDP). Positive energy balance of CF women in both the groups found to range from 189 ° 56 to 211 ° 20 kcal as energy expenditure was low due to their nature of work combined with the type of food service provided by the industry and other environmental factors. The results indicate that these women are at greater risk of malnutrition of excess energy.

Somatic Status, Stress Levels and Energy Expenditure Pattern of Adult Women

Abstract Recent research on women’s health and nutritional status have indicated disturbing trends related to malnutrition due to excess energy intake or impaired energy balance leading to overweight/obesity, particularly among those women who are physically inactive. Further, those women who are gainfully employed are subjected to additional stress due to their diverse economic, reproductive and cultural roles, which can have a detrimental effect on their nutrition and health. The present study assessed the nutritional status of 40 normal adult women in the age group of 20-60 years residing at different locales of Mysore city of Karnataka State. While somatic status of these women was assessed by Anthropometric measurements (Height, Weight, Mid upper arm circumference (MUAC), Skin Fold Thickness (SFT)), their energy expenditure was computed by a Factorial method using activity level and time records of two consecutive days and also using a Pedometer. The results indicated a positive energy balance in all age groups with concomitant increase in Body mass index. The energy, protein and fat status remained normal up to 40 years of age and increased thereafter. Waist Hip ratio (WHR), a risk factor for the development of chronic diseases increased as age advanced. However the energy intake of women was lower than the recommended dietary intake. The tendency towards reduced physical activity reflected in their increasing weight resulting in overweight with advancing age. It is suggested that studies such as these are required to predict the risk of developing non-communicable diseases in normal population.

The Impact of Developmental Programmes on the Nutrition Awareness of Farm Women

Abstract Agricultural development programmes are initiated to bring about improvement in the nutritional status of the rural population. WYTEP-women youth training extension project introduced since 1982 onwards aims to promote the welfare of farm women through training in agriculture. However, the curriculum does not have nutrition component. Hence, on experimental basis, a total of 100 farm women from 3 Taluks in Bangalore Dist., Karnataka were given nutrition education along with agricultural training and the nutritional knowledge was measured before and after over a period of 6 months. The training included both general and specific aspects of food and nutrition. The scores were found to be highly significant after the training as compared to initial scores. Education or age did not appear to influence the scores. The scores continued to be significant ever after a period of six months. Hence , it is stressed that all the training programmes should have nutrition component which can influence the nutrition of the house hold positively

Correlates of Stress and Indicators of Nutritional Status of Women in an Electronic Industry

Abstract The present investigation explores the correlation of daily house-hold, occupational and marital stress to nutritional indicators of women employed in a mega electronic industry. A group of 553 women employed in Bharat Electronics (BEL) located at Jalahalli of Bangalore urban district working in all the 12 divisions of both I and II shift were randomly selected. Results of the study revealed normal body size in Ex-I and overweight and obesity in Nex-II women. Occupational stress was higher in Ex-I women and the reverse pattern of comparatively higher stress in house-hold activity and marital life in Nex-II women. Stress scores were classified as high and low quartiles and correlated to mean BMI and WHR of these women. It was interesting to note that while BMI increased significantly with high occupational stress and an increasing trend of BMI with high stress of house-hold and marital life in Ex-I women. While in case of Nex-II women, a trend of increase in BMI was associated with high stress due to house-hold and occupation and it remained unchanged in marital stress. Significantly decreased WHR of lower body obesity was found to be associated with high stress due to household activity in Ex-I women and a trend of decreasing WHR was found to be associated with high stress related to both occupation and house-hold chores in Nex-II women. Findings revealed that stress may be associated with increased BMI and decreased WHR of over nutrition.

Food Service Facility and Adequacy of Food Served at the Work Site in an Electronics Industry

Abstract Canteen food service facility provided in an electronics industry was studied on different aspects-physical facilities in terms of provision of store rooms, food plant, canteen personnel, finance, food subsidy, purchasing, food production and service, hygiene and sanitation appeared quite satisfactory. Meal and menu planning studied was devoid of green leafy vegetables and fruits. Break fast items included were mainly refined bakery products - bread/bun, cake and biscuits supplying mainly calories. Per capita consumption of cereals, oils and fats, sugar, milk and milk products in the two meals itself was found to be in excess of their requirements. As a consequence per capita nutrient consumption exceeded the desirable amounts particularly calories in the two meals provided other than the food consumption at home. In the absence of proper awareness of nutrition, adlibitum food service with 30 minutes break for lunch appeared to be inappropriate in the group of sedentary workers. The study indicates the need for proper menu and meal planning, type of food service and nutrition education.

Effect of Commercialisation on the Dietary Status of Farm Women

Abstract Dietary status of farm women engaged in commercial farming with irrigation (CG-I) (n - 61) and without irrigation (CG-WI) (n=42) was determined and compared with that of women engaged in subsistence agriculture only-SG (n-38). The sample was drawn from a total of 285 households in 17 villages located in Bangalore District in the state of Karnataka, India. The data collected included food and nutrient intake of women by dietary history, frequency of food use and 24 hour diet recall, somatic measurements by anthropometry and energy expended in physical activities. The results indicated that the intake of milk and milk products, nuts, oil seeds, fats and oils was significantly higher in CGI than in CG-WI and SG. The energy intake was found to be adequate in all the groups as compared to RDI for Indians. However, they appeared to be at relatively high risk for developing micro nutrient deficiencies viz. iron. Vitamin A, riboflavin and ascorbic acid as they failed to meet even 50 percent of the RDI. Somatic status revealed that > 48 percent of the women irrespective of farming groups to be having low BMI (16-18.5), low MUAC, MUAMC and TSF. The energy expended in physical activities was found to be higher than the intake with deficits to the extent of 765 Kcal/day particularly among the employed women. Hence the low BMI could be attributed to increased energy expenditure and low MUAC and MUAMC indicative of low protein status to the fact that protein is being used as energy. The study is indicative of the fact that commercialisation of farming while leading to increased income did not appear to improve the nutrition of the women attributable to increased work output.