NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT AND STUDY OF AN AYURVEDIC PAUSTIK BISCUIT FORMULATED WITH RAGI, MUDGA, AND SHALI ON SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN OF INDIA

Abstract

Malnutrition among school-going children remains a major challenge in developing countries, leading to growth retardation and low immunity (1). The present clinical study was conducted to evaluate the impact of an Ayurvedic, diet-based formulation — Paustik Biscuit, prepared from Ragi (Eleusine coracana), Mudga (Vigna radiata), and Shali (Oryza sativa) — on nutritional and growth parameters among primary school children in Patan district, Gujarat. The intervention was based on classical Ayurvedic principles of Brimhana and Rasayana chikitsa (2,3). Each child received one standardized biscuit daily during the intervention period under supervision. Anthropometric parameters such as height, weight, BMI, and mid-arm circumference were recorded before and after intervention. Post-intervention analysis revealed significant improvement in mean BMI and weight, particularly among underweight children (5,6). The results suggest that Paustik Biscuit can serve as a cost-effective and culturally acceptable dietary supplement for improving child nutrition in school settings (7). The study follows the CONSORT guidelines for clinical trials and the DID-METAB 2025 checklist as recommended for diet-based interventions (8).

Keywords  
Paustik Biscuit; Ragi; Mudga; Shali; School Nutrition; Ayurvedic Functional Food