Contemporary Interests in Nutritional Biochemistry
As newer techniques in biochemistry have emerged from time to time, these were of immense help in the understanding of utilization of different nutrients by the body. Biochemical basis of some of the dreaded nutritional diseases of the past, such as beri-beri, scurvy, pellagra and pernicious anaemia are well understood. Likewise, problems such as protein-energy malnutrition, xerophthalmia, iron deficiency anaemia, iodine deficiency disorders though well understood are still prevalent. Added to these are contemporary problems like diabetes and cardiovas~ular diseases. Reliable biochemical indicators are also now available to detect the prevalence of sub-clinical deficiency of many nutrients in the population.