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Purpose: Sugarcane juice (ScJ) is a natural drink popular in most tropical Asian regions. However, research on its effect in enhancing sports performance is limited. The present investigation was to study the effect of sugarcane juice on exercise metabolism and sport performance of athletes in comparison to a commercially available sports drinks. Methods:Fifteen male athletes (18-25 yrs) were asked to cycle until volitional exhaustion at 70% VO 2 max on three different trials viz. plain water (PW), sports drink (SpD) and ScJ. In each trial 3ml/kg/BW of 6 % of carbohydrate (CHO) fluid was given at every 20 min interval of exercise and a blood sample was taken to measure the hematological parameters. During recovery 200 ml of 9% CHO fluid was given and blood sample was drawn at 5, 10, 15 min of recovery.Results: Ingestion of sugarcane juice showed significant increase (P<0.05) in blood glucose levels during and after exercise compared to SpD and PW. However, no significant difference was found between PW, SpD and ScJ for total exercise time, heart rate, blood lactate and plasma volume. Conclusion:ScJ may be equally effective as SpD and PW during exercise in a comfortable environment (<30 0 C) and a more effective rehydration drink than SpD and PW in post exercise as it enhances muscle glycogen resynthesis.

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Anemia is the most common nutritional disorder amongst Indian adolescents in India with 28% being afflicted. Despite the efforts, there has not been a significant reduction in the prevalence of anemia. The etiology of anemia is multifactorial and complex. Hence, there is a challenge to address the determinants of anemia in a population. In the present communication, the determinants of anemia such as nutritional factors, infectious diseases, genetic factors and other underlying factors has been reviewed. The pathophysiology, possible mechanisms and contribution of these factors in the etiology of anemia has been discussed. There is a need for analyzing the determinants of anemia amongst Indian adolescents for effective prevention and control of Anemia. Key words: Anemia, Iron deficiency, Hemoglobin, India, Adolescent.