HOME SCIENCE                                                          CLASS XII

CHAPTER 3(CONTD..)

PUBLIC NUTRITION AND HEALTH

MAIN DEFICIENCY SYNDROMES AND CONDITIONS

PROTEIN-ENERGY MALNUTRITION- from mild to severe

KWASHIORKOR (protein deficiency: mainly seen in young children)

Ø  Low-serum albumin

Ø  Severe oedema (hair discoloration and burn-like skin lesions)

Ø  Severe apathy and lethargy

Ø  Precipitated by measles or other severe infection

Ø  Abrupt weaning after birth of a new baby

Ø  Decreased cell-mediated immune function with high infection complications: return to normal with treatment

Ø  Rapid reversal of all signs and symptoms two weeks after with high protein diet

MARASMUS (total energy depletion)

Ø  Seen in both young children and adults

Ø  Children alert, ravenous, and irritable

Ø  Often seen with HIV/AIDS,  tuberculosis, malignancies, etc.

Ø  High energy and protein diet required over many months for recovery

Ø  Early weaning under 6 months with poor breast milk substitute major risk factor

Ø  Cognitive impairment

PEM can be assessed by evaluating the anthropometric measurements i.e. height and weight.

MICRO-NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES

If the diet is lacking in energy and protein then there is a large likely to contain inadequate amounts of other nutrients i.e minerals and vitamins.

Micro-nutrient deficiency is also called HIDDEN HUNGER.

Iron deficiency  (IDA)–

Ø  Global Problem

Ø  Anemia

Ø  Impaired cognitive function

Ø  Decreased physical activity

Ø  Decreased work capacity in older children and adults

Ø  Decreased appetite

Ø  Impaired cellular immune function and increased infections.

Ø  Animal source foods needed- absorption from cereals and legumes increased when mixed with meat

VULNERABLE GROUPS: women in child bearing age, adolescent girls, pregnant ladies, school age children.

MANIFESTATIONS OF IRON DEFICIENCY: general pallor, paleness of conjunctiva of eyes, tongue, nails, soft palate and poor memory functions.

Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD)-

Ø  Irreversible blindness. Very common cause for blindness among children.

Ø  Increased morbidity and mortality from infection, especially pneumonia and diarrhea

Ø  Loss of structure and function of epithelial linings of the body

Ø  Impaired cellular immune function

Ø  Sources: preformed retinol from animal source foods - carotene from orange yellow red Fruits and Vegetables

Zinc deficiency

Ø  Stunting

Ø  Loss of appetite associated with loss of taste

Ø  Loss of resistance to infection

Ø  Delayed puberty 

Ø   Impaired wound healing

Ø  Decreased activity

Ø  Sources:  Animal source foods (meat/fish)  - cereal legumes  mixed with meat and vitamin C will enhance mixed with meat and vitamin C will enhance absorption

VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY

Ø  Seen in vegetarians, or those on low animal source foods

Ø  Brain and CNS development

Ø  Red blood cell formation

Ø  Immune function

Ø  Recently found to play a role in brain development and cognitive function in children

Ø  Low breast milk B12 is of risk to an infant Approach: Promote animal source foods in diet, containing milk and/or meat of any variety

Folic acid

Ø  Neural tube defects from poor folate intake in first trimester of pregnancy

Ø  Anemia (macrocytic)

Ø  Sources: orange juice, meat (especially organ parts), dark green leafy vegetables

Ø  Needed before women realizes she is pregnant (policy is for all young women to take folate daily and food fortification)

Calcium

Ø  Bone calcification

Ø  Needed early and throughout life to prevent osteoporosis

Ø  Prevents rickets post-weaning, even in tropics

Ø  Prevents hypertension (especially in pregnancy) Source: milk products, small fish

Vitamin D Deficiency

Ø  Vitamin D deficiency, now known to be widespread, both in developing and developed countries

Ø  At risk groups: those with dark skin, and limited exposure of all to sunlight.

Ø  Older recommendations for Vitamin D extremely low.

Ø  Vitamin D plays a vital role in protection against malignancy, immune abnormalities, and other body functions (under active research)

Ø  Prevention: Exposure to sunlight and Vitamin D supplementation

Iodine Deficiency (IDD)-

In India where IDD is common - Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh.

Manifestation of IDD is GOITRE – enlarged thyroid gland.

Ø  Iodine deficiency is still a significant global problem, with negative socioeconomic impact.

Ø  Impaired intellectual capacity, decreased productivity, marked growth retardation,

Ø  Significant cause of poor pregnancy.

Ø  Globally due to lack of iodine in the food, soil, and water supply.

Ø  Seen in land areas away from the sea.

Ø  Highly prevalent in mountainous areas

Ø  Entire food chain also affected with low iodine.

Ø  Severely affected infant at birth with cretinism.

(TO BE CONTD..)

********************************

APARNA SHARMA

BLOGGER