Improvement in Iron Status and Physical Fitness after Iron Intervention

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia had deleterious functional consequences over a long period of work. These reduce individual capacity and adversely affect the economic productivity of the society. Hence, anemia is a significant factor in deteriorating the national development. For this purpose, a pre and posttest design was used to assess the effect of iron intervention in improving nutritional status and physical performance of 120 selected adult females (90 anemic, 30 normal). Three basic approaches of iron intervention were used. For which selected 90 anemic females were divided into 3 groups (30 in each). Food based powder group (FBPG, gp.1) was given food based tablets developed by mixing iron rich powder of lotus stem and rice bran with lemon juice. Synthetic iron group (SIG, gp.2) were given commercial tablets. IN dietary improvement group (DIG, gp3), intervention was done by nutritional counseling. Intervention was carried out to assess its effect for 60 days. Anthropometric measurements, hematological examination and physical performance were carried out before and after intervention. Physical performance was assessed by Harvard step test in two ways. Before and after performing the exercise, blood pressure and pulse rate were also measured. Reference group had better nutritional status in comparison to anemic groups with respect to all measured parameters. Results revealed that anthropometric measurements did not changed by intervention. Iron status of adult females increased by all three methods of intervention and in turn improved the physical performance of anemic subjects. Thus, it can be concluded by the investigation that the iron intervention, through all three ways was effective in overcoming anemia and consequently in improving physical performance of adult females.

Keywords: -Anemia, Iron Intervention, Iron Status, Physical Fitness