Muhammad Nasih and Fakhrudin Al Rozi won first place in the National Scientific Paper Writing held by the Student Association of Indonesian Nutrition Institute at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) on 22 February with their paper entitled “Dioscorea alata Linn Flakes and Microalgae Spirulina Platensis as Functional Food Product Rich in Antioxidant for Patients of Diabetes Mellitus. Both students from UGM's Agriculture Faculty have won over 40 participants from universities in Indonesia.
Rozi said that the tuber is one of local food that has the potential to be developed as safe food for people with diabetes. It has low level of glysemic index. “This has a major role in controlling blood glucose level,†he explained to journalists at Fortakgama Room,UGM, Friday (5/3). He said that boiled tuber has actually a high level of glysemic index (75), but roasting it at 180 Celcius degree for 20 minutes can minimise the level.