The aim of the study is to find the correlation of haemoglobin with iron and vitamin c among adolescent girls with iron deficiency anemia undergoing nutritional support therapy at selected higher secondary school in Bangalore, Karnataka. Materials and Methods: An experimental design with pre test and post test control group was used for the study. The total sample consists of 120 adolescent girls between the age group of 14-17 years studying at selected higher secondary school using simple random sampling method. The sixty participants from Srigandhadakaval Public School was taken to control group and sixty participants from Gangothri Public School was taken to experimental group. Haemoglobin is estimated b y using automated hematology analyser, iron by Ferene method and vitamin C by HPLC method. The Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient was carried out to correlate between level of haemoglobin vitamin c and iron. Results: Showed that the level of haemoglobin and vitamin C were highly corr elated except in experimental pre test, the level of haemoglobin and iron were marginally correlated in control group as well as in the experimental group. Whereas the level of vitamin c and iron correlated in control group not in the experimental group. Conclusion: There was a po sitive correlation between level of haemoglobin with iron and vitamin C.

Iron deficiency anemia poses a burden on the limited health care delivery system in India. Current pharmacological anti anemic agents cause undesirable side effect such as nausea, vomiting and dark stool. Herbal extract as a nutritional support therapy offer the potential for alternative treatment strategies. In this context, the goal of this study was to provide plant extract formulation for anemia treatment in adolescent girls in India. The herbal extract was prepared by slicing 500 mg of fresh amla or embelica officinals into small pieces and blended well and mixed with quarter litre of boiled and cold water and drain with sieve. Two medium sized pumpkin leaves or Cucurbita pepo leaves was blended well with 50 ml of water and the juice was drain out. Jaggery syrup was prepared by melting 1000 g jaggery in 250 ml of water. The herbal extract was prepared by adding amla juice (500 mL) and pumpkin leaves extract (50 mL) to the jaggery syrup. It was administered to the adolescent girls 30 mL per day prior to lunch for duration of 60 days with the help of an ounce glass. There was significant difference observed in the post test level of haemoglobin and physical work capacity between the control and experimental group after receiving the herbal extract. But it was found that only mild difference was observed in intelligence between the control and experimental group after receiving the herbal extract for sixty days. Combining the three extracts enhanced the level of haemoglobin which further improved the physical work capacity and intelligence. The formulation demonstrates more potential in combinational herbal medicines therapy in anemia management.

Introduction: Menopause is considered as a clinical marker of cessation of ovarian function. Some of menopausal symptoms, also known as climacteric symptoms experienced by these women can be severe enough to affect their normal daily activities. It is well documented that climacteric symptoms experienced by women affect their quality of life. Objective: To find out the prevalence and factors associated with climacteric symptoms among women residing in a rural area of Kerala. Methodology: This is a cross sectional study, which was conducted among 400 women residing in a rural area of South Kerala by house to house survey using a semi structured questionnaire. Results: Among the women surveyed 79.9% (n = 318) had at least one symptom out of the 23 symptoms studied, the most frequent symptoms being joint pain (35.8%, n = 143) and lethargy (32.3%, n = 129). Conclusions: The study findings do reveal that a large proportion of women in Kerala experience climacteric symptoms and women may be provided with balanced information regarding menopause.

No abstract

The nutritional support therapy was prepared from amla (Phyllanthus emblica or Indian gooseberry), pumpkin leaves (cucurbita pepo) and jiggery. It was an experimental study conducted among adolescent girls between the age of 14-17 years with iron deficiency anemia. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of intervention in enhancing the level of hemoglobin vitamin C and iron and its impact on the physical work capacity and intelligence. Amla and pumpkin leaves were extracted and Juice was mixed with jaggery syrup. It was administered to the adolescent girls with iron deficiency anemia, 30 ml/ day before lunch for a duration of two months. The estimation of level of hemoglobin by automatic hematology analyzer, iron by ferene method and vitamin c by HPLC method. Hardvard step test was applied to assess physical work capacity and culture fair intelligence non verbal test used to assess the intelligence. The result showed that statistically significant improvement in level of hemoglobin vitamin c and iron and it has significant effect on physical work capacity and intelligence. The intervention was very effective in enhancing the level of hemoglobin vitamin c and iron and also improving the physical work capacity and intelligence.