ADEQUATE LEAST NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION OF COCONUT WATER COULD LEAD TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT OF A SUBSTITUENT FOR ORAL REHYDRATION FLUID COMPLYING WITH WHO STANDARDS.

Abstract

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In spite o f being a nutrient and electrolyte rich fluid, coconut w ater r considered m ostly as a waste in Sri Lanka. A cute diarrheal diseases arc one o f the leading causes o f m ortality in infants and young children in malty developing countries which can be easily prevented by introduction o f an electrolyte l icit lehydration fluid. T he m ajo r objective o f this research was to analyze the feasibility o f using cbctU.ul w ater as a rehydration Iluid. F o u r areas from which coconuts enter in to a random l) selected market were selected for sample collection Coconuts in three maturity states Were considered from each area. Several rehydration biochemical properties were analyzed fbJ end , sample. Glucose content w as analyzed using glucose oxidase-peroxidase method, Modiiun, Potassium, Magnesium and Calcium contents were analysed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (FAAS). Chloride content was determined using an Ion Selective Electrode. Osmolality of the samples was analysed using an Advanced Micro freezing point dt sessio n Osmometer. Anti-oxidant contents were analyzed using DPP11 method Each property was compared with W HO standards for the Production o f new Oral Rehydration 'iait':. Potassiuln content and the Osmolality o f all the samples were higher than (he WHO standard levels and all the other properties were below the accepted levels. However samples contained considerable amounts o f Calcium, agnesium and Antioxidants. Mased oil this pilot study it can be concluded that only minimal supplementation is required towards development of an oral rehydration solution using coconut water. Further studies are ongoing aiming at ultimate value addition as well as waste management.