Micronutrients Deficiencies in 185 Million People of Pakistan

This book envisages new estimates of the public health importance of iron and zinc deficiency prevailing in Pakistani population, and put glimpses on different diseases caused by these micronutrients in children and particularly women. This book put more emphasizes on strategies and solutions for combating these deficiencies in Pakistani people. These micronutrients when taken individually or in combination may prevent several deadly ailments. More work is required to estimate the levels of these two minerals in masses in Pakistan. Their individual role in disease prevention with functional evidences through clinical trials is need of the day in under developed areas. Such data in large population may be used later on for developing supplementation strategies on national level. Issues such as zinc supplementation alone, in combination with iron or with other micronutrients should be better addressed. Researchers are exploring effect of combined supplementation and its effect on zinc status, but the data are not clear regarding morbidity outcomes. Combined supplementation of iron and zinc may provide an efficient way to combat deficiency symptoms of both minerals.