DIETARY INTERVENTION WITH LOCAL Arrowroot (Maranta arundinaceae L.) COOKIES IMPROVES PROBIOTIC BACTERIA IN TODDLER

Prebiotic potential of arrowroot (Maranta arundinaceae L.) and starch in vitro and in vivo have been investigated, but its was limited in experimental animals. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effect of of arrowroot
cookies consumption on probiotic bacteria in toddler. Analysis were performed on the components of cookies that
have the potential as a prebiotic that is rafinose and FOS, as well as the levels of resistant starch and dietary fiber. Intervention with 5-chip cookies (up to 30g/day) every day was conducted on healthy toddler aged 2-5 years, with the exclusion criteria included use of antibiotics, as well as intake of prebiotic and probiotic. Intervention for
10 days using a pretest-posttest design. Analyses were performed on the profile probiotic bacteria of feces
before and after the intervention.The results showed that the arrowroot cookies contain prebiotic components
such as resistant starch, soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, as well as raffinose and FOS. Dietary intervention
with 10-20g/day arrowroot cookies could improve Bifidobacteria, Lactic Acid Bacteria, E.coli and unaerobic bacteria population, but the growth of E. coli was inhibited in 20-30g/day arrowroot cookies consumption.