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.