World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

ACCEPTABILITY AND EVALUATION OF IRON RICH CHOCOLATES DEVELOPED USING LOTUS STEM (NELUMBONUCIFERA) AND DATES (PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA) FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Ankita Sehjpal Sharma*, Ashmeeta Bhatia and Gurjeet Kaur Chawla

ABSTRACT

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anemia is defined as hemoglobin levels <12.0 g/dL in women and <13.0 g/dL in men. The frequency and severity of iron deficiency anemia signifies a major health problem. The adolescent girls are the worst hit by this kind of anemia mainly due to their inability to take an iron rich diet and also to compensate the losses incurred due to menstruation. This study was done keeping the high demand of chocolates among adolescents which encourages development of an iron rich product made using iron rich ingredients while taking base as chocolate. The study on acceptability and evaluation of iron rich chocolates using lotus stem and dates for adolescent girls was done in four stages. The first stage involved procurement of iron rich raw materials (lotus stem and dates). In the second stage, the product was developed using lotus stem powder, dates and edible chocolate. The third stage involved gauging its acceptability using composite score card by trained panelists. Proximate analysis was done to calculate protein, carbohydrate, fat and iron content in the product. Three samples were made by varying the quantities of the ingredients. The second sample which was Sample B had a mean overall acceptability score of 15.7±2.26 and showed an increase in the iron content as compared to the standard chocolate which had an overall acceptability score of 14.7±4.44. This product hence could be given to girls to counter the effects of iron deficiency anemia and increase their nutritional status.

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