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ThesisItem Open Access Nutritional status of women engaged in the coir industry(Department of Home Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Lovely, Ranganath; KAU; Vimalakumari, N KThe study entitled Nutritional status of women engaged in the coir industry was carried out of assess the nutritional status of women engaged in the spinning of coir yarn and to find out its influence on the work output, which in turn could affect their socio economic status. For the evaluation of nutritional status, the study was conducted in two levels – on a macro sample of 200 coir workers and on a microsample of 40 women coir workers. Details of the socio economic survey showed that the majority of families were small nuclear type, headed by male members following Hinduism. The main occupation of the community was coir work and in all the families at least one woman was employed in a coir cooperative society in the vicinity. Many of the families had a monthly income that ranged between Rs.1000 to 2000. Lack of permanent and full time employment, high cost of living , inability to educate their children, problems related to economic burdens imposed by repayment of loans and medical expenses, lack of housing facilities and absence of male earning members in the family were the important economic problems, in the order of priority, as felt by the families, which have led them to a life of miserable existence. Their poor socio-economic background is reflected the fact that the physical amentities available to the coir worker’s household left much to be desired. All the families were found to be poverty stricken when the Rural Quality of life Index (RQLI) was calculated. The families suffered from household food insecurity that their diets were ill balanced and were deficient with respect to pulses, egg, meat, green leafy vegetables and fruits. The poverty and poor food intake by the families were reflected in the socio economic characteristics and low nutritional status of the women coir workers though they were wage earners. The poor nutritional status is reflected in their poor stature which was suggestive of low food intake and dual responsibilities of the household as well as of the work site. Apart from this the dietary inadequacy was reflected in wide prevalence of anaemia among 85.00 per cent of the respondents, from the microsample, which was found to influence their work output. The work output and nutritional status which are interrelated seemed to be further influenced by the poor working conditions, absence of physical amenities, poor food intake insanitary conditions and consequent parasitic infections and infestations. However, it is gratifying to note that occupational disorders were not prevalent to an extent that merits mention. The coir workers when spin the golden yarns of the economic and social fabric of the state of Kerala, the land of palms, re found to be tredding through a path of poverty and food insecurity leading them to poor nutritional and health status. This makes them a vulnerable lot needing economical social support from the rest of the population and from the Government, through a multidimensional approach, so that they may have better health and nutritional status so as to become the torch bearers of our heritage, who may boost our economy paving way to healthy descendants.ThesisItem Open Access Dietary habits, fat consumption pattern and blood lipid profile of adults engaged in moderate activity(Department Of Home Science, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Lisa Poopally, J; KAU; Vimalakumari, N KThe study entitled “Dietary habits, fat consumption pattern and blood lipid profile of adults engaged in moderate activity” is an attempt to assess the food and fat consumption pattern of selected moderately active adult males in relation to their blood lipid profile. Fifty adult male employees, between the age of 25-40 years, doing moderate activity for the past 8-10 years were selected for the study. Socio economic back ground of the families revealed that majority of them were Hindus, belonging to extended type of families. All the respondents were moderately educated, and in addition, some of them also possessed technical qualification essential for their job. The personal monthly income of the respondents were in the range of Rs.3000-4000. In addition to this, income earned by different family members, and income from agriculture also contributed to the total family income. Anthropometric measurements of the subjects revealed that the mean height and weight of the subjects were above the ideal height and weight suggested for a reference man by ICMR. Body Mass Index(BMI) of all the respondents were found to be below 25 which indicated that none were obese. Majority of the respondents were non smokers, and only a very small per cent were found to use alcohol daily. Few of the respondents also had the habit of taking exercise regularly to keep them physically fit. All the respondents were consuming two major meals from the factory canteen. The dietary survey revealed that ninety eight percent were habitual non vegetarians. The food served in the factory canteen was found to be an affluent one characterized by energy rich foods, comprising of fats and refined sugars. The consumption of pulses, leafy vegetables, other vegetables, milk and products far exceeded the RDA, where as the energy intake was 30.6 percent above RDA. The consumption of fish was found to be high among the respondents. Coconut oil was the chief used in cooking in the factory canteen as well as in 92 percent of the families. The per capita availability of oil in the house hold showed a wide variation ranging from 13.5 – 56g. The average invisible fat intake of respondents were 56g, which was higher than the average visible fat intake, of 45g/day. Compared with recommended daily allowance, higher energy intake was noticed in majority of the respondents, indicating that they are in a positive energy balance. Analysis of the lipid profile revealed that 20 percent had serum cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dl, where as LDL cholesterol level was found beyond 150 mg/dl only in 73 percent. HDL – cholesterol, which has a protective effect, was found beyond 55mg/dl only in 7 percent. All persons except one had the total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio more than 5, which shows that they are at CVD risk in future. Personal habits showed a significant association with the blood lipid profile of the subjects. The non vegetarian food habits also showed a significant positive association with blood cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Assessment of the food and nutrient in take of the subjects showed that protein content of the diet was mainly contributed by the consumption of fish and egg, while the coconut kernel supplied the invisible fat content of the diet. A significant positive association was observed between the percent of energy supplied from invisible fat and the triglyceride and VLDL cholesterol levels. From the above findings it was revealed that the blood lipid profile in terms of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and the ratio between the total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol of the subject was found to be affected by food and fat consumption (especially the invisible fat) and personal habits of the respondents. All these lipid fractions and the ratio, exhibited an increasing tendency, with the existing dietary and fat consumption pattern and personal habits of the respondents, which could be indicative of a tendency for independing cardiovascular disease risk.ThesisItem Open Access Qualitative changes in cashew apple products in storage with special reference to vitamin C(Department of Home Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Sreeja, K C; KAU; Nirmala, CThe study entitled “Qualitative Changes in cashew apple products in storage with special reference to vitamin C” is a comprehensive study aimed to find out the qualitative changes that occur in cashew apple products in storage with more attention to vitamin C. Results of the study indicated that the fresh cashew apple had a vitamin C content of 263 mg/100g, total soluble solids 11.200Brix, reducing sugars 15.20 per cent, total phenol 0.34 per cent, acidity 0.18 per cent and pH of 3.10. Before storage clarified juice prepared from cashew apple had a vitamin C content of 213.06 mg/100g, total soluble solids 10.300Brix, reducing sugars 14.04 per cent, total phenol 0.31 per cent, acidity 0.14 per cent and pH 3.40. Organoleptic evaluation of clarified juice before storage received a mean scores of 3.50 for appearance, 3.80 for taste, 3.60 for flavour and 4 for astringency. For squash and jam, the parameters like taste, flavour and astringency secured the mean score for 4.00. The colour of jam recorded a mean score of 3.90 wine secural a mean score of 3.00 for appearance, 3.40 for taste, 3.15 for flavour, 3.00 for colour, 3.50 for clarity, 3.00 for strength and 4.00 for astringency. For candy taste, flavour, texture and astringency attributes revealed a mean score of 4.00 and the score for appearance was 3.35 and 3.20 for colour. It was found that Vitamin C content of different cashew apple products like clarified juice, squash, wine, jam and candy, fortnight analysis revealed that there was significant differences between the time of preparation and length of storage period. In the case of wine the vitamin C content and the time of preparation was on par with one after fifteen days. After that there was significant reduction in the vitamin C content with the increasing storage period. Monthly analysis of total soluble solids and reducing sugars in clarified juice, squash and jam was found to increase with increased storage time. But it was decreased in wine. In candy, total soluble solid was lowered during storage of six months. Total phenol content of all products showed decreasing trend. Monthly analysis of acidity of different cashew apple products like clarified juice, squash, wine and jam revealed an increasing trend. But in candy it showed a decreasing trend. pH or all products except candy were significantly lower after storage when compared to initial levels. Alcohol content of wine increase during storage. Before storage it was 8.70 per cent, while after six months of storage it was to 14.00 per cent. The rate of change of vitamin c was found to decrease as -0.41 mg/100g, -0.34 mg/100g, -0.56 mg/100g, -0.54 mg/100g and -0.53 mg/100g in clarified juice, squash, wine, jam and candy respectively. Total soluble solids in clarified juice (+0.26), squash (+0.33), and jam (+ 0.46) increased during storage, but in wine (-0.94) and candy (-0.45) it was found to decrease. A rice in Reducing sugars was found in clarified juice (+0.24 per cent) squash (+0.05 per cent) jam (+0.09 per cent) and candy (+0.11 per cent) but in wine (-0.371 per cent) it was found to decrease. The rate of change of total phenol content in clarified juice (-0.024), squash (-0.019), wine (-0.018), jam (-0.017), candy (-0.013) was found to decrease during storage of six months. pH of clarified juice, squash, wine and jam were found to decrease during storage but in candy it was found to increase. Acidity showed an increasing trend in clarified juice (+0.01), squash (+0.01), wine (+0.01) and jam (+0.02) but in candy it was found to decrease. Organoleptic evaluation of clarified juice found that the score for appearance increased over a period of six months. Taste depicted a decreasing trend, when the period of storage increased. The scores obtained during fourth, fifth and sixth months were significantly lower when compared to the initial values recorded. There was reduction in flavour during storage. For squash the scores for appearance, taste and flavour decreased over a period of six months. Appearance of wine received maximum scores in the six months of storage. Highest score for taste was obtained during the sixth month of storage. The mean scores obtained for flavour before storage was 3.15, after six months it attained a mean score of 4.00. Strength of wine also measured during storage. Appearance of jam slowly diminishing as the storage interval advance. Taste attributes, flavour and colour were also found to decline. Texture of jam showed no difference. Appearance, taste and colour of candy declined during storage. Flavour of cashew apple candy maintained the maximum level up to third month of storage. All products assessed for microbial contamination during early months of storage. All the products except candy were found to be free from contamination.ThesisItem Open Access Food consumption pattern and nutritional status of farm women in Thrissur district(Department of Home Science, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Udaya, P K; KAU; Indira, VA study on the food consumption pattern and nutritional status of farm women in Thrissur District was carried out among 120 families. The results of the study indicated that majority of the families were of nuclear type and were Hindus. Majority of the adults were literate and agriculture was found to be their main occupation. It was observed that majority of the respondents were engaged in house work. Majority of the families had a monthly income ranging from Rs.1000 to 4000/- The most frequently used food items were cereals, milk and milk products, nuts and oil seeds, spices and condiments. Majority of the families did not plan their meal pattern in advance and they consumed food three times a day giving preference to the male members of the family. Nutritional status of the farm women revealed that majority of them were undernourished. Food weighment survey revealed a deficient intake of cereals, pulses, green leafy vegetables and flesh foods. The intake of most of the nutrients was low. Nutritional status of farm women on the basis of body mass index indicated that only 38.33 percent had normal nutritional status. Majority of the respondents suffered from very mild form of anaemia and clinical symptoms were observed only in very few respondents.ThesisItem Open Access Sanitary quality and adulterants in selected processed foods(Department of Home Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Nimmy Thomas; KAU; Vimalakumari, N KThe study entitled “Sanitary quality and adulterance in selected processed foods” was conducted to identify the contaminants and adulterants found in most commonly consumed processed foods through chemical and microbial evaluation. The study comprised of two independent surveys to identify the most commonly sold and consumed processed foods. The identified items were subjected to chemical and microbial analysis. The survey conducted among selected (100) households in Trivandrum city revealed the socio-economic status of the family, extend of use of processed foods and knowledge of the respondents on the sanitary quality of foods. From the survey, it was found that majority of the respondents were Hindus living in urban pockets with nuclear type of family. The average income of the respondents ranged between Rs.1000 to 2500 per month. An inventory survey was also conducted among 100 shops in 15 selected areas of Trivandrum city. These 15 areas were selected from the map of Trivandrum city based on the assortment of shops selling processed foods. From the survey it was found that 17 items were sold to a greater extend (out of 58 different items sold in the shops) than other processed foods selected for detailed study. The other 6 items were excluded because they had already been subjected to ‘quality testing ‘ based on PFA rules. The foods thus selected for evaluation were icecream, fruit juice, fruit drinks, ground nut sweets, milk, soda, jelabi, laddu, biscuit, bread and cakes were excluded from microbial analysis as these foods were subjected to processing by high temperature, which reduced microbial load. Results of microbial analysis showed that all the 10 samples were free of microbial contamination. Analysis of composition, to check whether the food samples confirmed to the standards specified by ISI revealed that all the food samples were free from adulteration. However 2 ice cream samples and a fruit drink sample (out of 10 samples each tested) were not up to the standard specified by ISI. The fat content of 2 ice cream samples and total solid content of a fruit drink sample were below the standard specified by ISI. Thus the study revealed that the items most frequently used by consumer of Trivandrum city and sold in abundance, from the shops were found to be of good sanitary quality and were found to be free of adulterants.ThesisItem Open Access Nutritional profile and mental functions of preschool children belonging to agricultural labourer families in Thrissur district(Department of Home Science, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Shyna, P K; KAU; Usha, VA Study was conducted among the preschool children belonging to agricultural labourer families in Thrissur district, to find out their nutritional profile and to analyse the association if any, between nutritional profile and mental functions of these children. The socio economic details inferred through the survey were found to be satisfactory. Nuclear families with better housing facilities and good educational level was the striking feature observed. Immunization and other health care facilities were better utilized by the families. Food consumption survey results revealed a dietary pattern of vegetables, pulses, coconut and coconut oil. The inclusion of green leafy vegetables and fruits by the families was found to be negligible. Dietary profile of preschool children revealed that the food groups and nutrient intakes were below the RDA levels. Prevalence of malnutrition as revealed by anthropometric survey indicated that most of the children were normal. But prevalence of grade I and grade II malnutrition was observed in some children.
