Effect of cumin water in enhancing hunger levels among school-aged children

TL;DR

This study found that drinking cumin water for four weeks significantly increased hunger levels in school-aged children with reduced appetite.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence that cumin water can improve hunger levels in children with low appetite.

Findings

Children who drank cumin water showed significantly higher hunger levels than the control group.

Age, family type, parental occupation, and deworming practices influenced hunger levels.

The intervention lasted four weeks and used a standardized hunger scale for assessment.

Abstract

Hunger and appetite play a vital role in children's growth and development. Reduced appetite in school-aged children can lead to
malnutrition, poor academic performance and weakened immunity. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the efficacy of cumin water in
enhancing hunger levels among school-aged children. Hence, a total of 120 children with reduced appetite were randomly divided into
experimental and control groups. The experimental group received cumin water daily for four weeks, while the control group followed
their usual diet. Hunger levels were assessed pre- intervention and post-intervention using a standardized hunger scale. The experimental
group demonstrated a significant improvement in hunger levels compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Key factors influencing
hunger included age, family type, parental occupation and deworming practices.

Full text

Background:

Hunger and appetite are fundamental physiological needs that significantly influence growth, development and overall well-being, particularly among children. A healthy appetite ensures adequate nutritional intake, which is essential for meeting the energy and developmental needs of school-aged children [1]. Loss of appetite or reduced hunger is a common concern in this age group, often caused by factors such as gastrointestinal disorders, poor dietary habits, psychological stress and environmental influences. Prolonged appetite issues can lead to malnutrition reduced academic performance and a weakened immune system [2]. In recent years, natural and cost-effective remedies have garnered significant attention for addressing appetite-related issues. Among these, cumin water-a traditional remedy with a rich history in Ayurvedic and folk medicine-has shown potential benefits [3]. Cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum) are known for their digestive properties, including the ability to stimulate appetite, improve digestion and alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort [4]. These properties are attributed to the presence of bioactive compounds such as thymol, cuminaldehyde and essential oils, which enhance the secretion of digestive enzymes and bile acids [5]. Despite its traditional use, there is limited empirical evidence assessing the effectiveness of cumin water in promoting hunger levels among children [6]. Therefore, it is of interest to investigate the efficacy of cumin water in enhancing hunger levels among school-aged children with reduced appetite.

Methodology:

A quasi-experimental, randomized control group design was adopted to assess the efficacy of cumin water in enhancing hunger levels among school-aged children [7, 8]. The study was conducted in selected schools of Visnagar, Gujarat, over a period of four weeks. The study population included children aged 6-12 years with reported loss of appetite. A total of 60 participants were selected using non-probability purposive sampling, divided equally into experimental (n=30) and control (n=30) groups.

Intervention:

The experimental group received 50 ml of cumin water (prepared from 3 grams of cumin seeds) three times daily before meals for five consecutive days. The control group followed their routine dietary practices. Both groups were assessed for hunger levels using a 10-point Hunger Assessment Scale before and after the intervention.

Data collection:

Data were collected using a structured tool consisting of two sections:

[1] Demographic variables: Age, gender, birth order, dietary patterns and clinical factors such as appetite awareness and bowel habits.

[2] Hunger assessment scale: A numerical scale (1-10) evaluating appetite levels, where higher scores indicated poorer appetite.

Ethical considerations:

Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional ethics committee and informed consent was secured from the parents of all participants.

Data analysis:

Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency, percentage) were used to summarize data, while inferential statistics (independent t-test, paired t-test and chi-square test) were employed to evaluate the intervention's effectiveness and associations with demographic variables.

Results:

Table 1 shows both groups had equal age distribution (33.3% each age group). The experimental group had more males (66.7%) and first-borns (56.7%). Nuclear families (50%) and mid-income (INR 4,727-7,877: 53.3%) were common. Most weighed 15.1-20.0 kg (56.7%), followed a non-vegetarian diet (53.3%), and had one meal per day (53.3%). Appetite awareness was lower (40% not aware), bowel habits were mostly twice a day (63.3%), and deworming was mostly occasional (50%). Figure 1 (see PDF) shows a significant improvement in hunger levels among the experimental group compared to the control group. In the experimental group, all 30 participants were "Full" during the pre-test. After the intervention, 5 participants shifted to "Hungry," 22 to "Normal," and 3 remained "Full." In the control group, all 30 participants were "Full" during the pre-test, and in the post-test, only 3 shifted to "Normal," while 27 remained "Full". Table 2 presents the mean hunger scale scores and their statistical significance. The experimental group showed a significant improvement in hunger levels post-test (mean difference = 3.03, p < 0.001), while the control group's changes were not significant (mean difference = 1.64, p = 0.07). Table 3 summarizes the chi-square test results for the association of demographic and hunger-related variables with hunger levels in the experimental group. Significant associations were observed for age, education, type of family, occupation, weight, deworming practice and duration of hospitalization (p ≤ 0.05). Other variables did not show statistically significant associations.

Discussion:

The present study demonstrates the significant efficacy of cumin water in enhancing hunger levels among school-aged children. This was evidenced by a notable improvement in hunger scores within the experimental group, highlighting cumin water as a natural, cost-effective intervention for addressing reduced appetite. The results align with previous research emphasizing the appetite-stimulating properties of bioactive compounds like thymol and cuminaldehyde, which are known to stimulate digestive enzymes and bile secretion [9]. Similarly, studies on bioactive phytochemicals suggest that they promote long-term appetite regulation [10]. Our study also found a significant association between age and hunger improvement (p = 0.05). Older children demonstrated greater responsiveness, possibly due to better-developed digestive systems and metabolic demands. This is consistent with findings from Ethiopian children, where developmental factors and proper sanitation were closely linked to malnutrition outcomes [9]. Moreover, education was significantly associated with hunger levels (p = 0.01), suggesting that awareness and literacy influence dietary habits. Supporting this, a study highlighted how education improves water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices, ultimately reducing stunting and wasting rates [12]. The type of family also emerged as a significant factor (p = 0.05), with joint and extended families showing better hunger improvement than nuclear families. This may be attributed to shared resources and collective dietary practices. Studies in rural India have shown that family support positively impacts children's nutritional outcomes, especially in resource-limited settings [13]. Parental occupation further influenced hunger levels (p = 0.05), likely due to income stability and access to nutritional resources. A study in Bangladesh similarly found that income levels and food expenditure are strongly linked to better nutritional outcomes in children [14].

Children's weight significantly affected hunger improvement (p = 0.05), with underweight children showing greater responsiveness to cumin water. This is consistent with findings from Brazil, where underweight children demonstrated significant recovery when given targeted interventions [15]. Additionally, regular deworming practices (p = 0.05) were linked to improved hunger levels, as parasitic infections impair nutrient absorption. Studies from India and Ethiopia emphasize the importance of deworming in reducing malnutrition and improving appetite in children [11]. The study also highlighted the influence of hospitalization duration (p = 0.05) on hunger levels. Longer hospital stays likely provided children with additional nutritional monitoring and care. This aligns with findings that hospitalized children receiving comprehensive nutritional care exhibit improved health outcomes [16]. The current study demonstrated that cumin water significantly enhanced hunger levels in school-aged children, likely due to the action of bioactive compounds such as thymol, cuminaldehyde and essential oils. These constituents are known to stimulate gastric secretions and aid in digestive enzyme activity, thereby promoting appetite [17, 18]. This aligns with findings from Taghizadeh et al. who observed reduced gastrointestinal discomfort in adults taking cumin essential oil [6]. The results also support broader research on phytochemicals, which suggests their role in appetite regulation through neuroendocrine pathways [19]. In addition to the biological effects of cumin, our study identified several socio-demographic factors influencing hunger improvement, including family type, education and parental occupation and deworming practices. These results align with findings from Hasan et al. and Tume et al. who reported that deworming and improved sanitation practices significantly reduced malnutrition in children [12, 20]. Furthermore, the impact of parental education and income aligns with studies from South Asia showing strong links between household resources and child nutrition [14]. Our findings on improved hunger among hospitalized children are consistent with Weinreb et al. who noted that structured medical care enhances nutritional outcomes in vulnerable populations [21].

Conclusion:

Data supports the potential of cumin water as a natural and effective solution for appetite-related issues. The association table further highlights the importance of factors like education, family structure, income stability, deworming and healthcare access in improving hunger levels. Integrating these insights into community health initiatives can enhance the effectiveness of interventions like cumin water in addressing malnutrition and hunger.