Effects of seeds powder (Flax, Pumpkin, Sesame, and Sunflower) on nutritional status of women of reproductive age

Title : Effects of seeds powder (Flax, Pumpkin, Sesame, and Sunflower) on nutritional status of women of reproductive age

Abstract:

Background: Micronutrients and macronutrients deficiencies, malnutrition, anemia, menstrual dysfunctions, infertility are the major cause of morbidities and mortalities world widely. Anemia among Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) has fourth highest prevalence in Pakistan (41.3%) and malnutrition (14%) but overweight or obese populations increased. So this convinced the researcher to find out alternative ways and complementary treatments therapies to control these issues. Including seeds like flax, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower in the diet helped in addressing malnutrition and anemia in women of reproductive age.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of seeds powder (flax, pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower) on nutritional status of women of reproductive age.

Methods: A randomized controlled trail was conducted with two groups (Experimental and control) on healthy women of reproductive age regular consuming healthy diet. The flax, pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds powder mixture (15gm) was given to the experimental group on daily basis for 45 days. Tests and anthropometric data were taken before and after the 45 days.

Results: The results revealed that the experimental group's waist to hip ratio was 0.84 ± 0.032, while the control group's mean was 0.87 ± 0.042. There was a significant difference of 0.03 ± 0.388 between the two groups. The BMI of experimental group decreased significantly as compared to the control group. The systolic blood pressure of Both groups decreased significantly, with a mean difference of 12 mmHg. Hemoglobin levels for the experimental group had a mean value of 11.60 (± 0.98), a mean difference of 1.25 (± 0.18), and a mean value of 10.35 (± 1.16) for the control group. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels were also compared, with the experimental group at 26 ± 1.23 and the control group at 25 ± 1.72. This showed a significant impact on the nutritional status of women.

Conclusion: This study concluded that the prevalence of malnutrition and anemia in reproductive age women is high in Pakistan. The findings of the study showed that the intervention had a significant impact on the anthropometric and laboratory measures of the participants. The experimental group showed improvements in their waist-hip ratio, BMI, blood pressure, hemoglobin levels, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin as compared to the control group. The findings of the study suggest that seed powder given changes in BMI and hemoglobin levels, was effective in improving the nutritional status of the women in the experimental group.

Key words: Flax Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Reproductive Age, and Diet Plan, Complete Blood Count (CBC), Hemoglobin (Hb) Levels, Weight, Height, BMI, Waist-hip Ratio.

Biography:

Anam Saeed is a Clinical Nutritionist and Teaching Assistant at the University of Home Economics, Lahore. She was awarded a Gold Medal during my tenure at FMH College of Medicine & Dentistry, alongside two Silver Medals, one Bronze Medal, and two academic Distinctions from the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, she holds an MSc in Human Nutrition & Dietetics from Riphah International University. My professional achievements include establishing the Department of Preventive Cardiology at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology and department of Nutrition at Punjab employee Social Security hospital Lahore. Previously she served as Clinical Coordinator at the University of Lahore and contributed to the iHealth-T2D study, by Imperial College of London, specializing in metabolic disease prevention and functional food research in South Asian populations.