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The Impact of Improved Nutrition on Disease Prevention

Richard D. Semba

in Silent Victories: The History and Practice of Public Health in Twentieth Century America

In the 20th century, major progress was made in the near elimination of many nutritional deficiencies disorders in the United States such as rickets, pellagra, iodine deficiency, infantile scurvy, ... More

In the 20th century, major progress was made in the near elimination of many nutritional deficiencies disorders in the United States such as rickets, pellagra, iodine deficiency, infantile scurvy, iron deficiency due to hookworm, and subclinical levels of vitamin A deficiency and folate deficiency. The vitamins and their roles in human health were characterized, and dietary requirements were established. The landmark studies of Joseph Goldberger revealed that the cause of pellagra was nutritional rather than infectious. The fortification of foodstuffs, nutrition education, home gardening, and federally supported feeding programs all were aimed at improving the nutrition of the U.S. population. The American diet also evolved in light of the newer knowledge of nutrition. Despite the tremendous advances in the 20th century, obesity and other challenges remain for nutrition and public health efforts in the 21st century.Less

Bioarchaeological Analysis of Remains

Grace Turner

in Honoring Ancestors in Sacred Space: The Archaeology of an Eighteenth-Century African-Bahamian Cemetery

Presumably in constructing the sidewalk, the bones from these shallow burials were disposed of elsewhere. Remains of five adults and one child were excavated. Seven subadult teeth were ... More

Presumably in constructing the sidewalk, the bones from these shallow burials were disposed of elsewhere. Remains of five adults and one child were excavated. Seven subadult teeth were surface-collected around a hole at the western edge of the site. Being buried in moist sand meant that most bones excavated were fragmented. Bones and teeth were examined for evidence of pathologies. This small sample is not representative of the community, but the pathologies provide insight on these persons’ lives. The linea aspera on the only femur excavated is fairly robust. The individual’s sex was indeterminate, but this ambiguity reinforced the point that both men and women in this community engaged in physically demanding work. Cranial fragments from two individuals were thickened, an indicator of anemia resulting from nutritional deficiency or disease. Cribra orbitalia was noted in the eye socket of one individual, another indicator of nutritional deficiency. Two of the child’s incisors have transverse lines, evidence of enamel hypoplasia, an indicator of infectious disease and nutritional stress. Individuals buried in this cemetery were likely of low social status, living in congested and unsanitary conditions with limited food. These pathologies raise questions about the extent these conditions existed among African-Bahamian communities. Economic opportunities for free and enslaved workers would have been limited.Less

Esophageal Cancer

Christian C. Abnet, Olof Nyrén, and Hans-Olov Adami

in Textbook of Cancer Epidemiology

Esophageal cancer shows distinct geographic distributions, changing incidence rates, and primary risk factors when examined separately as squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell ... More

Esophageal cancer shows distinct geographic distributions, changing incidence rates, and primary risk factors when examined separately as squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma remains the dominant histologic type in many low- and middle-income countries and occurs frequently, while adenocarcinoma is classified as rare but predominates in Western countries. Tobacco and alcohol are the dominant risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma in Western countries, but not in high-incidence Asian populations, where hot beverages and specific nutritional deficiencies may be important. For adenocarcinoma, tobacco use is causal while alcoholic beverages are not. Rather, obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease are the other dominant identified risk factors. Genetic predisposing factors and somatic mutations are also cell type specific. The differences in esophageal cancer incidence within and between countries, by sex and race, and in known risk factors suggest major strides in understanding the etiology of esophageal cancer is within reach.Less

Health and Nutrition: The History

in Measuring Up: A History of Living Standards in Mexico, 1850-1950

This chapter examines the influence of health and nutrition on the evolution of the biological standards of living in Mexico. The analysis reveals that poor health status affected the evolution of ... More

This chapter examines the influence of health and nutrition on the evolution of the biological standards of living in Mexico. The analysis reveals that poor health status affected the evolution of biological standards of living of the popular classes for cohorts born between 1850 and 1950 and that there were sharp contrasts in diet across social classes. This chapter argues that the unequal provision of health services, dietary habits that perpetuated nutritional deficiencies among the popular classes, and unchanging fertility patterns all played a crucial role in creating the evolution and perpetuation of unequal living standards among the Mexican population.Less

Vegetarian Diets Across the Lifespan

Georgia E. Hodgkin

in Pediatric and Adult Nutrition in Chronic Diseases, Developmental Disabilities, and Hereditary Metabolic Disorders: Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment

This chapter discusses vegetarian diets across the lifespan. The health benefits of vegetarian diets, normal growth in children, nutrients of concern with vegetarian diets, and dietary management are ... More

This chapter discusses vegetarian diets across the lifespan. The health benefits of vegetarian diets, normal growth in children, nutrients of concern with vegetarian diets, and dietary management are discussed.Less