The silent tragic reality of Hidden Hunger, anaemia, and neural-tube defects (NTDs) in India
Summary: Hidden Hunger arising from nutritional iron-, folate-, and vitamin-B12-deficiencies is exceedingly common in India and has profound negative impacts on anaemia, on pregnancy, and on embryonic-foetal neurodevelopment in utero, which predisposes to NTDs and psychological-psychiatric manifesta...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2022-11-01
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| Series: | The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772368222000877 |
| _version_ | 1798032807321141248 |
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| author | Aśok C. Antony Ravindra M. Vora Santosh J. Karmarkar |
| author_facet | Aśok C. Antony Ravindra M. Vora Santosh J. Karmarkar |
| author_sort | Aśok C. Antony |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Hidden Hunger arising from nutritional iron-, folate-, and vitamin-B12-deficiencies is exceedingly common in India and has profound negative impacts on anaemia, on pregnancy, and on embryonic-foetal neurodevelopment in utero, which predisposes to NTDs and psychological-psychiatric manifestations in childhood. Whereas younger-to-middle-aged Indians fail to perform at maximum potential, the elderly are at risk for calamitous neurologic events. However, these micronutrient-deficiencies are eminently correctable through food-fortification. Therefore, the Indian Government can no longer afford the luxury of inaction by either denying or downplaying the gravity of this problem. What is critically needed from India's leaders is an urgent, clear-eyed reappraisal and act of anagnorisis—(an often startling self-recognition and discovery of a profoundly serious error and tragic flaw)—in failing to confront this problem for decades. Only when closely followed by a metanoia—(a transformative change of heart that triggers remedial action)—can they help India avoid a catastrophic tryst with destiny. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:18:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-05645825fa704b61ad1bec545b375123 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2772-3682 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:18:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia |
| spelling | doaj.art-05645825fa704b61ad1bec545b3751232022-12-22T04:04:52ZengElsevierThe Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia2772-36822022-11-016100071The silent tragic reality of Hidden Hunger, anaemia, and neural-tube defects (NTDs) in IndiaAśok C. Antony0Ravindra M. Vora1Santosh J. Karmarkar2Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Corresponding author at: Walther Hall, R3-C321B, 980 West Walnut Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202.Department of Paediatric Surgery, Paediatric Surgery Centre & Post-Graduate Institute, Implementing The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery in India, Sangli, Maharashtra, IndiaDepartment of Paediatric Surgery, Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, IndiaSummary: Hidden Hunger arising from nutritional iron-, folate-, and vitamin-B12-deficiencies is exceedingly common in India and has profound negative impacts on anaemia, on pregnancy, and on embryonic-foetal neurodevelopment in utero, which predisposes to NTDs and psychological-psychiatric manifestations in childhood. Whereas younger-to-middle-aged Indians fail to perform at maximum potential, the elderly are at risk for calamitous neurologic events. However, these micronutrient-deficiencies are eminently correctable through food-fortification. Therefore, the Indian Government can no longer afford the luxury of inaction by either denying or downplaying the gravity of this problem. What is critically needed from India's leaders is an urgent, clear-eyed reappraisal and act of anagnorisis—(an often startling self-recognition and discovery of a profoundly serious error and tragic flaw)—in failing to confront this problem for decades. Only when closely followed by a metanoia—(a transformative change of heart that triggers remedial action)—can they help India avoid a catastrophic tryst with destiny.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772368222000877IronVitamin B12FolateAnaemiaNeural-tube defectsPregnancy |
| spellingShingle | Aśok C. Antony Ravindra M. Vora Santosh J. Karmarkar The silent tragic reality of Hidden Hunger, anaemia, and neural-tube defects (NTDs) in India The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia Iron Vitamin B12 Folate Anaemia Neural-tube defects Pregnancy |
| title | The silent tragic reality of Hidden Hunger, anaemia, and neural-tube defects (NTDs) in India |
| title_full | The silent tragic reality of Hidden Hunger, anaemia, and neural-tube defects (NTDs) in India |
| title_fullStr | The silent tragic reality of Hidden Hunger, anaemia, and neural-tube defects (NTDs) in India |
| title_full_unstemmed | The silent tragic reality of Hidden Hunger, anaemia, and neural-tube defects (NTDs) in India |
| title_short | The silent tragic reality of Hidden Hunger, anaemia, and neural-tube defects (NTDs) in India |
| title_sort | silent tragic reality of hidden hunger anaemia and neural tube defects ntds in india |
| topic | Iron Vitamin B12 Folate Anaemia Neural-tube defects Pregnancy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772368222000877 |
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