UNS – Students from Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta have developed a specialized milk formula aimed at preventing stunting in lactose-intolerant babies. The product, named Risoymilk, combines rice and soy milk fortified with zinc nanoparticles, significantly enhancing its nutritional content to meet the needs of toddlers and children.
The research behind this innovative formula was conducted by a team from the Student Activity Program (PKM) for Exact Research (RE) UNS, consisting of Tia Febrianti, Ade Eka Yuniar, and Ajeng Fitri Rivalina from the D-3 Pharmacy Program of the Vocational School (SV); Aliya Karima from the Food Technology Program of the Faculty of Agriculture (FP); and Levinahansa Arbelinda from the Pharmacy Program of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA). Their research was supervised by Nindita Clourisa Amaris Susanto, S.Si., M.Sc., a lecturer at UNS.
In an interview with uns.ac.id, Tia Febrianti, the team leader, explained that the inspiration for their research stemmed from the issue of stunting in Indonesia. The government has been actively promoting exclusive breastfeeding and providing supplementary nutrition for children as part of its efforts to combat stunting. However, many mothers face challenges in providing exclusive breastfeeding due to insufficient milk production or the demands of their jobs.
Parents often turn to cow’s milk formula as a substitute, but many children suffer from lactose intolerance, leading to unmet nutritional needs. The UNS students observed that lactose-intolerant babies are often given soy or rice milk, yet parents may not fully consider the nutritional content of these alternatives.
“Our observations revealed that many infants and toddlers dislike soy milk due to its beany odor, unpleasant taste, and lack of sweetness,” Tia said.
Diarrhea in babies fed cow’s milk formula is a common symptom of lactose intolerance, which prevents the baby’s body from properly digesting lactose, resulting in digestive issues such as diarrhea and bloating. Inadequate nutrition from milk can trigger stunting in babies.
Preventing this condition involves developing alternative milk options that are safe for lactose-intolerant babies. Soy milk is frequently used as a substitute for cow’s milk due to its rich nutrient content. However, soy milk has low carbohydrate content, and its unpleasant taste and odor can deter babies from drinking it.
Rice milk is another common alternative, as it contains carbohydrates. However, rice milk lacks minerals and is generally low in protein. One crucial mineral for child growth and development is zinc.
Zinc, or ZnO, is widely used as a health supplement due to its ability to enhance digestive and immune system functions. When fortified in the form of nanoparticles, zinc offers better stability and faster absorption compared to its standard particle form.
“Therefore, in our research, we combined rice and soy milk to enhance the nutritional content, improve the taste, mask the slightly unpleasant flavor and lack of sweetness in soy milk, and meet essential mineral needs,” Tia explained.
Humas UNS
Reporter: R. P. Adji
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
