STUDY ON POSSIBLE USE OF HIGHLY PROTEINACEOUS ZOOPLANKTON AS A DIRECT SOURCE OF SUPPLEMENTARY FOOD FOR THE PREVENTION OF PROTEIN ENERGY MALNUTRITION (PEM).

Abstract

Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) is the condition when the body does not get enough protein to maintain healthy tissues and organ’s function resulting from inadequate or unbalanced diet. PEM is considered as the most lethal form of malnutrition due to lack of protein from the inadequate quantity and quality of food availability. Poor quality and quantity of food is considered as one of the important factor for PEM. Considering some fact, although the full utilization of terrestrial sources, it will not be able to keep up with the future demand of food supply for growing population of the world. Present study is set to evaluate the availability of another highly proteinaceous source of food for human. Zooplanktons are well known for its high protein content 52% to 59%. Nutritional importance of zooplankton community for survival and healthy growth of fishes has been proved by studies¹. Nutritional evaluation of mixed zooplankton (protein estimation) has been done from dry matter as well as from fresh matter in correlation to the nutritional requirement of undernourished living beings to assess the future possible use of zooplankton as one of the direct source of food.