Department of Food and Nutrition, Punjab Agricultural university, Ludhiana
Online published on 5 March, 2012.
Ninety non insulin dependent diabetic male subjects between 40–50 years, free from serious complications were selected from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) hospital, Ludhiana to study the effect of supplementation of stevia leaf powder and nutrition counselling on nutrient adequacy of non insulin dependent diabetics. The subjects selected were divided into three groups, namely group I, group II and group III having thirty subjects each. Group I subjects were given only medicine prescribed by the doctor, group II subjects were given medicine prescribed by the doctor and nutrition counselling and group III subjects were given medicine, nutrition counselling and stevia leaf powder. One gm of stevia leaf powder was incorporated in 500 mg capsules and were given to the subjects daily during breakfast and lunch for three months. Nutrition education was given to the subjects of group II and III for 3 months after fifteen days interval. The daily diet consumed by the subjects before the study was inadequate in foods like green leafy vegetables (GLV's), other vegetables and fruits which have a protective role in diabetics whereas the consumption of foods like cereals, pulses/legumes, roots/tubers, meat/poultry, fats/oil and sugar/jaggery was high as compared to the suggested intake. The mean daily intake of energy, carbohydrates, proteins, fat, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and magnesium was higher while vitamin C, zinc and iron was below the recommendations before the study in all the three groups. After the study, there was a significant increase in vitamin C, zinc and iron in group II and III subjects. Therefore, supplementation of stevia and nutrition education is an effective measure to bring about favourable and significant changes in nutrient adequacy of the diabetics.
Food, Nutrient, Nutrition counselling, Stevia leaf powder, Supplementation
