More than 100 million human beings suffer from physical
and mental disabilities globally. These are generally caused by malnutrition
and also known as nutritional disabilities. If we take the matter
seriously; these are preventable disabilities. Malnutrition is
a major cause of growth retardation, blindness due to vitamin-A
deficiency and rickets due to vitamin-D deficiency. High
fluorine content in drinking water may lead to fluorosis.
Over exposure to fluoride in drinking water or otherwise would erode the enamel of teeth; a condition called dental fluorosis. Children below the age of 10 years should not be allowed to use fluoride containing tooth pastes. Dental fluorosis is characterized by coloring and pitting of teeth. Over ingestion of fluoride in drinking water may lead to severe skeletal abnormalities also. Quality of drinking water should be assured by Public Health & Sanitation Departments of the area worldwide.
Deficiency of iodine in drinking water or food would lead to metabolic disorders and mental retardation in children as well as adults. In our body, iodine is processed by thyroid gland (an endocrine gland) present in the front of our neck. The colloidal substance present in the thyroid gland is a store house of iodine. The cells of the thyroid gland secrete an internal secretion called thyroglobulin; that breaks down to thyroxine hormone before being released into blood stream. Thyroxine is a tetra-iodo-compound (also called T4 hormone) that controls general metabolism of our body. Another thyroid hormone isolated from thyroid gland as well as present in blood/plasma is triiodothyroxine (also called T3 hormone). Under secretion of thyroid hormones in children produces cretinism. A cretin child grows up mentally retarded dwarf unless treated by thyroid extract. Goitre (enlargement of thyroid) and cretinism can be prevented with iodized salt or water.
Contamination of orange-red pulses (certain legumes of genus Lathyrus or kesari dal) may cause lathyrism (neuromuscular weakness). Seeds of Lathyrus cicera and Lathyrus clymentum are known to contain a toxin, causing neurolathyrism. Osteolathyrism is caused by a different toxin called beta-aminopropionitrile (present in sweet peas); that affects linking of collagen fibrils with bones and muscles. By careful sorting of legume seeds used as pulses Lathyrism can be prevented.
Protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) is another preventable abnormality/disability. Protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) leads to poor physical and mental endowment. Long term feature of PCM is mental retardation. Through the community education and awareness about nutritional value of food stuffs these nutritional disabilities can be prevented. Rickets is most common amongst malnourished children. Rickets is caused by deficiency of vitamin-D. Deficiency of vitamin-D leads to softening of bones and skeletal abnormalities in children. Children should be exposed to the sunlight as it leads to formation of vitamin-D from the pro-vitamin-D in our body. Butter, egg yoke and some species of fish are rich source of vitamin-D. So, intake of these and exposure to sunlight would be helpful for preventing rickets in our children.
Over exposure to fluoride in drinking water or otherwise would erode the enamel of teeth; a condition called dental fluorosis. Children below the age of 10 years should not be allowed to use fluoride containing tooth pastes. Dental fluorosis is characterized by coloring and pitting of teeth. Over ingestion of fluoride in drinking water may lead to severe skeletal abnormalities also. Quality of drinking water should be assured by Public Health & Sanitation Departments of the area worldwide.
Deficiency of iodine in drinking water or food would lead to metabolic disorders and mental retardation in children as well as adults. In our body, iodine is processed by thyroid gland (an endocrine gland) present in the front of our neck. The colloidal substance present in the thyroid gland is a store house of iodine. The cells of the thyroid gland secrete an internal secretion called thyroglobulin; that breaks down to thyroxine hormone before being released into blood stream. Thyroxine is a tetra-iodo-compound (also called T4 hormone) that controls general metabolism of our body. Another thyroid hormone isolated from thyroid gland as well as present in blood/plasma is triiodothyroxine (also called T3 hormone). Under secretion of thyroid hormones in children produces cretinism. A cretin child grows up mentally retarded dwarf unless treated by thyroid extract. Goitre (enlargement of thyroid) and cretinism can be prevented with iodized salt or water.
Contamination of orange-red pulses (certain legumes of genus Lathyrus or kesari dal) may cause lathyrism (neuromuscular weakness). Seeds of Lathyrus cicera and Lathyrus clymentum are known to contain a toxin, causing neurolathyrism. Osteolathyrism is caused by a different toxin called beta-aminopropionitrile (present in sweet peas); that affects linking of collagen fibrils with bones and muscles. By careful sorting of legume seeds used as pulses Lathyrism can be prevented.
Protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) is another preventable abnormality/disability. Protein calorie malnutrition (PCM) leads to poor physical and mental endowment. Long term feature of PCM is mental retardation. Through the community education and awareness about nutritional value of food stuffs these nutritional disabilities can be prevented. Rickets is most common amongst malnourished children. Rickets is caused by deficiency of vitamin-D. Deficiency of vitamin-D leads to softening of bones and skeletal abnormalities in children. Children should be exposed to the sunlight as it leads to formation of vitamin-D from the pro-vitamin-D in our body. Butter, egg yoke and some species of fish are rich source of vitamin-D. So, intake of these and exposure to sunlight would be helpful for preventing rickets in our children.
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