Evaporated Sugarcane Juice as a Food Fortificant

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most widespread preventable nutritional problem in the world, despite continuous efforts for its control. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates more than two billion people suffer from this condition worldwide [1]. The prevalence estimate of global anemia in preschoolers is 293.1 million cases, or 47.4 % of the total population in this age range [2]. More recent evidence from studies in animals and humans associates anemia in the first years of life to impaired cognitive development in later stages [3]. Estimates report that in developing countries annual losses due to reduction in physical productivity through anemia are US$ 3.54 per person or 0.81 % gross domestic product (GDP), and that median total losses (physical and cognitive) are US$ 16.78 per person or 4.05 % GDP [4]. To combat anemia WHO advocates three main methods: dietary diversification, to include foodstuffs rich in iron, with high bioavailability; fortification of staple food items; and iron supplements for at-risk populations [5]. Dietary diversification is probably the most sustainable means of addressing the problem of IDA. According to WHO, the most promising diversification strategies are those that include the use of locally consumed foodstuffs [5]. Popular locally consumed foodstuffs with high iron content and bioavailability are of key interest, as they can be used to tackle anemia in populations with low iron stocks and/or high iron requirements such as growing children and women of childbearing age [5, 6].