Pearl millet is suitable for young girls....!

Pearl millet and teenage girls    by Mwangi Mumero

Researchers at the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have launched a study to out how groundnuts and pearl millet can be used to alleviate iron deficiency among teenage girls.

Anaemia caused by iron deficiency is a major cause of death among the 16-19 year teenage girls due to their monthly menstruation cycles.

This is especially acute in semi-arid regions across the world where sources of iron are scarce.

Known as ‘FeFa Girls’, the project will address iron deficiency and poor dietary fibre intake. A key aspect of iron-deficiency anaemia prevention and control is promotion of diets containing adequate amounts of bioavailable iron.

Currently, the project has been launched in India but its findings will be used across the globe to address the glaring challenges of iron deficiency.

Intensive approach to health and wellbeing is important for development of adolescent girls, according to researchers.

“Our approach is to use practical food-based solutions using crops rich in iron and dietary fibres. We aim to achieve overall improvement of iron supply naturally in adolescent girls with mild to moderate iron deficiency,” observed Dr Peter Carberry, Director General, ICRISAT.

A study on pearl millet published in Journal of Nutrition shows that pearl millet bred to contain more iron can supply young children with their full iron needs

Pearl millet is an important staple food in semi-arid regions of India and Africa where iron deficiency is common.

The results indicate that less than 160 of the iron rich pearl millet flour daily is enough to provide women aged 18-45 years with more than 70 percent of their daily iron needs.

In a related research , use of biofortified high iron pearl millet cab reduce significance iron deficiencies and improve nutrition and cognitive performance.

Researchers note that poor diets lacking in iron reduce brain development and capacity- hampering individuals’ potential and societies.

This is especially common in poor third world nations where iron deficiency also leads to anemia in children and women.

Societies that are vegetarian are particularly at risk of iron deficiencies especially if green vegetables are lacking, observes the study by Oxford University.

 “If we can improve adolescents’ performance in school by improving their iron status we may also have longer term impacts in terms of their ability to secure a good job, or be admitted to a college program,” says Dr. Samuel Scott, Associate Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute, lead author of the study. (ends)