Leaf Concentrate

IDEAS BANK describes practices and ideas considered appropriate for sustainable development, especially in poor communities

Combatting 'night blindness' in young children using Leaf Concentrate

Young children with immune systems weakened by malnutrition and a deficiency of protein, vitamins and minerals are prone to a range of debilitating illnesses. One of these is a form of visual impairment known as 'night blindness' which makes vision very difficult in low light conditions.
In poor communities this condition is usually directly caused by a deficiency of vitamin A.

Most poor communities can develop the means to eradicate this problem using a simple, low technology technique to produce a leaf concentrate with a high content of protein, energy, minerals and vitamins, including vitamin A.

Young children with immune systems weakened by malnutrition and a deficiency of protein, vitamins and minerals are prone to a range of debilitating illnesses. One of these is a form of visual impairment known as 'night blindness' which makes vision very difficult in low light conditions.

Most poor communities can develop the means to eradicate this problem using a simple, low technology technique to produce a leaf concentrate with a high content of protein, energy, minerals and vitamins, including vitamin A.

Leaf concentrate is obtained by means of a simple mechanical process which involves pulping the leaves of a range of leafy green plants. The picture above shows a villager from Orissa in India using a simple meat mincer in the process. The vegetable being pulped is Amaranth, a commonly available plant which is easy to grow. After first cutting off the roots, the vegetable is washed and then pulped by passing it through the mincer (this is technically referred to as cell rupture). The pulp is then collected and strained through a cotton cloth to separate the liquid pulp from the crushed fibre. The liquid pulp is then placed in a container of water heated on a low flame (85 degrees C). Within two or three minutes the liquid will be seen to split into curds and whey. The liquid is then left to cool and then strained to collect the curd - this is the leaf concentrate. The coagulated curd is then gently washed in the cloth with clean water and left to drain.
Approximately 25 gms of concentrate can be obtained from 1 Kg of green leaves. The following table shows the minimum amount of protein and a range of vitamins and minerals required by the average person according to the FAO/WHO and the amount of each provided by just 20 gms of leaf concentrate:-

* Leaf concentrate is high in protein with the best essential amino acid composition of any vegetable protein product. The following table shows the Amino acid proportions per 100 gms protein:

A diet of just 5 gms (one teaspoon) taken 5 times a week appears sufficient to provide for the vitamin A requirements of small children and eliminates Bitot's spots. Energy intake must be considered when balancing LNC into small children's diets.

Leaf Nutrient Concentrate (LNC) has many advantages. The main disadvantage is making a small quantity as the concentrate tends to get lost in the process - in the whey. Depending on the type of dark green leafy vegetable, the best quantity to start with as a trial on getting to know the process is 1Kilo.

Trials over 5 years carried out by New Hope have shown that when made in the community, a teaspoon per child taken 3 times a week, reduced 'night blindness' caused by vitamin A deficiency by 96% minimum.

The quantity that is often quoted in referring to the nutrient value is 20 grams. That has an incredible amount of B-carotene. New Hope carried out child eye examinations aimed at detecting early signs of night blindness (cheesy or foam patches or white blobs on conjunctiva). Those detected with any signs were given 20 grams alternate days over 10 days and 98% of all signs totally cleared up in 45 days. Very severe, old 'stains' often do not go away.

New Hope did weight for age and red blood cell counts of target children on and off for 7 years in many parts of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh State in India. The teaspoon of LNC 3 times weekly for 1 year showed better than 30% growth gain when compared to non LNC, same diet, children in the same, or adjoining, areas. Over 2 years the weight and height gain and overall dental records, plus HB levels, if deworming was included on a quarterly basis (using either mebendazole or natural Neem oil drops), the average gain was in the range 29%-45% with 68% having a gain above 37%.

There are certainly 'tricks in introducing LNC into children's diets. New Hope's experience is that the children are reasonably agreeable to small amounts being mixed in with their curries or rice, or mixed with rice and a sweetener. The adults were more critical of the taste and their attitude can influence the children. Strong pre- introduction discussion groups need to be considered to explain the overall health gains for the children. Adults also need to learn that there is no waste in the process. The fibre left over from the extraction process is exactly what most adults need. In a poverty line situation, adding onion and a little salt and frying the fibre with a small amount of oil and water can be an influence for adults to become involved.

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