The Effect of a Turkey Berry (Solanum torvum)-Fortified Biscuit on the Hemoglobin Level and Cognitive Performance of Adolescent Females in the Ahafo Region of Ghana: A Pilot Study
Anemia is a public health problem that affects about 50% of adolescent females in sub-Saharan Africa. Anemia can negatively affect the overall growth, cognitive performance, and productivity of school-going adolescents. This pilot study assessed the impact of Solanum torvum-fortified biscuits on hem...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Food Science |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/1388782 |
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| author | Abigail Owusuaa Appiah Marina Aferiba Tandoh Pepertual Suglo Puotege Anthony Kwaku Edusei |
| author_facet | Abigail Owusuaa Appiah Marina Aferiba Tandoh Pepertual Suglo Puotege Anthony Kwaku Edusei |
| author_sort | Abigail Owusuaa Appiah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Anemia is a public health problem that affects about 50% of adolescent females in sub-Saharan Africa. Anemia can negatively affect the overall growth, cognitive performance, and productivity of school-going adolescents. This pilot study assessed the impact of Solanum torvum-fortified biscuits on hemoglobin levels and cognitive performance of school-going adolescent females. A cluster randomized controlled, open labeled trial was undertaken among four basic schools in the Ahafo Region of Ghana. Out of the 169 participants, 151 (intervention=83, control=68) adolescent females completed the trial. The intervention and control groups were made up of two schools each. The participants in the intervention and control groups received a total of 30 turkey berry-fortified biscuit supplementation or 30 placebos for a period of six weeks, respectively. The hemoglobin levels and cognitive test scores were obtained before and after the intervention. The number of anemic cases and low cognitive performance among the female adolescents in the intervention group reduced by 23.8% and 8.7%, respectively. There was a positive impact on the hemoglobin levels and cognitive performance of the intervention group. For every unit of turkey berry-fortified biscuit consumed by the intervention group, there was a 0.945 unit increase in hemoglobin level (p=0.001) and a 2.796 unit increase in cognitive performance (p=0.005). The turkey berry-fortified biscuit significantly reduced anemia prevalence and improved cognitive performance among the adolescent girls. Therefore, its potential in the management of anemia and improvement of cognition could be explored. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b40aba059fa946f5a1d5ce36c01b0823 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2314-5765 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Food Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-b40aba059fa946f5a1d5ce36c01b08232025-02-03T06:45:14ZengWileyInternational Journal of Food Science2314-57652023-01-01202310.1155/2023/1388782The Effect of a Turkey Berry (Solanum torvum)-Fortified Biscuit on the Hemoglobin Level and Cognitive Performance of Adolescent Females in the Ahafo Region of Ghana: A Pilot StudyAbigail Owusuaa Appiah0Marina Aferiba Tandoh1Pepertual Suglo Puotege2Anthony Kwaku Edusei3Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Human Nutrition and Dietetics)Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Human Nutrition and Dietetics)Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Human Nutrition and Dietetics)Department of Health Promotion and Disability StudiesAnemia is a public health problem that affects about 50% of adolescent females in sub-Saharan Africa. Anemia can negatively affect the overall growth, cognitive performance, and productivity of school-going adolescents. This pilot study assessed the impact of Solanum torvum-fortified biscuits on hemoglobin levels and cognitive performance of school-going adolescent females. A cluster randomized controlled, open labeled trial was undertaken among four basic schools in the Ahafo Region of Ghana. Out of the 169 participants, 151 (intervention=83, control=68) adolescent females completed the trial. The intervention and control groups were made up of two schools each. The participants in the intervention and control groups received a total of 30 turkey berry-fortified biscuit supplementation or 30 placebos for a period of six weeks, respectively. The hemoglobin levels and cognitive test scores were obtained before and after the intervention. The number of anemic cases and low cognitive performance among the female adolescents in the intervention group reduced by 23.8% and 8.7%, respectively. There was a positive impact on the hemoglobin levels and cognitive performance of the intervention group. For every unit of turkey berry-fortified biscuit consumed by the intervention group, there was a 0.945 unit increase in hemoglobin level (p=0.001) and a 2.796 unit increase in cognitive performance (p=0.005). The turkey berry-fortified biscuit significantly reduced anemia prevalence and improved cognitive performance among the adolescent girls. Therefore, its potential in the management of anemia and improvement of cognition could be explored.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/1388782 |
| spellingShingle | Abigail Owusuaa Appiah Marina Aferiba Tandoh Pepertual Suglo Puotege Anthony Kwaku Edusei The Effect of a Turkey Berry (Solanum torvum)-Fortified Biscuit on the Hemoglobin Level and Cognitive Performance of Adolescent Females in the Ahafo Region of Ghana: A Pilot Study International Journal of Food Science |
| title | The Effect of a Turkey Berry (Solanum torvum)-Fortified Biscuit on the Hemoglobin Level and Cognitive Performance of Adolescent Females in the Ahafo Region of Ghana: A Pilot Study |
| title_full | The Effect of a Turkey Berry (Solanum torvum)-Fortified Biscuit on the Hemoglobin Level and Cognitive Performance of Adolescent Females in the Ahafo Region of Ghana: A Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of a Turkey Berry (Solanum torvum)-Fortified Biscuit on the Hemoglobin Level and Cognitive Performance of Adolescent Females in the Ahafo Region of Ghana: A Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of a Turkey Berry (Solanum torvum)-Fortified Biscuit on the Hemoglobin Level and Cognitive Performance of Adolescent Females in the Ahafo Region of Ghana: A Pilot Study |
| title_short | The Effect of a Turkey Berry (Solanum torvum)-Fortified Biscuit on the Hemoglobin Level and Cognitive Performance of Adolescent Females in the Ahafo Region of Ghana: A Pilot Study |
| title_sort | effect of a turkey berry solanum torvum fortified biscuit on the hemoglobin level and cognitive performance of adolescent females in the ahafo region of ghana a pilot study |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2023/1388782 |
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