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Zinc deficiency rising in Indians
Why in news?
Rising CO2 levels responsible.
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- How rising CO2 accelerate zinc deficiency?(1) New study titled ‘Inadequate zinc intake in India: past, present and future’ states that rising carbon dioxide levels can accelerate zinc deficiency in crops and thus in human consumption.
- Most are in rice dominant areas:(1) Highest rate of inadequate zinc intake was concentrated mainly in the southern and northeastern States with rice-dominated diets: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh,(2) Manipur and Meghalaya.
- Health concerns:(1) Inadequate zinc intake can have serious health consequences, particularly for young children, who are more susceptible to contracting malaria, diarrhoeal diseases and pneumonia, when suffering from zinc deficiency.(2) The presence of zinc plays a critical role in human immune systems.
- Other findings:(1) Rice is poor in the presence of zinc, causing higher rates of zinc inadequacy in diets that rely heavily upon it.(2) Overall urban populations, and wealthier urban groups in particular, showed higher rates of inadequate intake as well, due to a higher proportion of nutrient-poor fats and sugars in the diet.
Source
The hindu.