https://doi.org/10.51514/JSTR.6.2.2025.42-47
Priyanka Sondhiya, Aarti Malhosia and Meenal Phadnis
ABSTRACT
In many parts of India, childhood malnutrition is not just a statistic it’s a harsh reality for millions of families. Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) affects children in their most crucial years of growth, leaving them underweight, stunted, and vulnerable to infections that their small bodies struggle to fight off. Despite existing nutritional programs, many children suffer from inadequate growth, largely due to limited access to nutrient-dense foods and poor digestion, which prevents their bodies from absorbing essential nutrients. Even small amounts of these foods can dilute and reduce the bulk of your grains.
Therefore, ARF helps increase the calorie density while reducing the weight of weanling porridge. Parents can use ARF to improve the digestion of low-cost foods produced at home. As milk is the best food for babies. Fortunately, most rural mothers in India can breastfeed their babies for long periods of time.
Amylase-rich food (ARF), a simple yet powerful solution derived from germinated cereals and pulses, has the potential to change this narrative. Unlike conventional foods, ARF enhances digestibility, breaking down complex starches into simpler forms that are easier for malnourished children to absorb. By improving nutrient bioavailability, ARF could provide these children with a fighting chance at healthier growth. This study aims to assess how ARF supplementation can influence key anthropometric measurements in children diagnosed with PEM in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
This study is being conducted as a community-based, controlled intervention among children aged 0 months to 5 years diagnosed with PEM based on WHO growth standards. Over 6 months, children’s growth will be tracked through anthropometric measurements at three stages: baseline, mid-intervention (3 months), and post-intervention (06 months). Beyond just numbers, the study will also consider real-life factors: How well do children accept ARF? Are caregivers finding it easy to incorporate into daily meals? Is there an improvement in overall energy levels and well-being? These insights will add depth to the statistical analysis, using paired t-tests and ANOVA to evaluate the impact of ARF on growth.
At its core, this study is about giving children a better shot at life. If ARF can help improve their growth and nutritional status, it could become a game-changing addition to India’s fight against childhood malnutrition. Beyond academic findings, the goal is to provide evidence that can influence policies and nutrition programs. This ensures that no child suffers the lifelong consequences of malnutrition simply because they lack access to digestible, nutrient-rich food.
Keywords: Amylase Rich Food, Protein-Energy Malnutrition, Childhood Growth, Anthropometry, Nutritional Intervention, etc.