International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition

Authors
Jyoti Sinha, Kiran Bains, Paramjit Chawla, Sanjeev Kumar

Abstract
Consumption of b-Carotene rich orange-fleshed sweet potato in either fresh or cooked form can contribute considerably in increasing protein, iron and fiber content as well as serum retinol and glutathione levels. It had a beneficial effect on lowering the total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, VDL-C but helped in increasing the HLD-C increased after supplementation in males and females. It also lowered blood pressure. The supplemented products were found to have higher calcium content than the corresponding control sample. b-carotene and ascorbic acid content increased with the supplementation of sweet potato. Supplementation with orange-fleshed sweet potato anti-oxidant powder 20g/day for 3 months to the selected subjects revealed that after supplementation of OFSP powder, serum retinol and glutathione peroxidase increased (22.8 and 27.1%, 35.12 and 35.9% in male and female respectively). Random blood sugar reduced (13.2% in males and 9.65% in females). Blood pressure also decreased (8.86 and 16.54% in male and female in Systolic BP and 7.43 and 13.4% in male and female in Diastolic BP) with OFSP supplementation. The study concludes that supplementation of 20g OFSP significantly reduce the oxidative stress; improved the lipid profile and antioxidant status of male and female. Results of the biochemical analysis of blood, co-relates with supplementation of food with 20 percent of OFSP may be one of the factors in intervening in these aspects.