University of Agricultural Sciences' department of Foods and Nutrition has developed a finger millet (ragi) mix known as 'urihitu' for non-insulin dependent patients. The product is now ready for clinical trials which will be conducted at the MS Ramaiah Memorial Hospital. Ragi contains the compound, carbohydrates, that helps slow release of blood glucose.

The first phase of the trial will involve 30 patients who will be identified for the study after assessing their glycaemia levels and preferably between 40 and 50, Dr K Shanthakumari, professor and scheme head, AICRP-HSc. Foods and Nutrition, division of Home Science, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore told Pharmabiz. The ragi mix will be provided to patients which will be consumed for breakfast for period of 100 days. The mix can be used for making idlis, dosa, rotis and mudde which are all breakfast items in the Karnataka.

For the trials, Dr Shanthakumari is the principal investigator and Dr Prasanna Kumar, head, dialectology department, MS Ramaiah Hospital is the co-investigator.

The trial is a part of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR) initiative development of value-added research programmes. UAS is also providing a manual on the nutritive value of ragi and its indispensability in the diets of diabetics.

Although dialectologists recommend consumption of ragi to the patients every day, the trial will provide a scientific evidence on the impact of the mix on patients, stated Dr Shanthakumari.

Other projects by the University include study of anaemia control in adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years where a product is developed using the under utilized grains that are rich in iron content. The objective is to overcome the deficiencies through food items, she said.

The institute is also testing the fluoride level in foods grown in the three agro climatic zones of Coastal Karnataka, Bangalore district and northern districts where it will randomly pick up cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits, roots, tubers and spices for the study.

Another effort by the UAS is that their students for their post graduate thesis presentation have developed ragi products using a range of medicinal plants like Madhunashni, Amruthavalli, fenugreek, jamun seeds and ashwagandha. Each of the herbs are separately mixed with ragi flour to prepare vermicelli. A minimum of 30 patients were feed for 100 days and results proved favourable. But these products are yet to go through advanced studies to go in for further development, stated Dr Shanthakumari.

An extruded ragi product with defatted soya and spices was also tested for pediatric fractures where patients' x-rays revealed faster recovery and bones were joined together perfectly compared to patients who were not fed with the product.

The University has standardized several products including weaning foods. Many of the products have been transferred to small entrepreneurs and sold with the University seal in the State. The increasing demand for finger millet for its therapeutic value has led to an increase in price for farmers five a kilo to Rs 13.

For all these projects the ICAR chips in 75 per cent of the grant and 25 percent is from the UAS. No details of the exact funding for these programmes were made available.