Volume 1

First report / Committee on Nutrition in the Colonial Empire.

  • Great Britain. Committee on Nutrition in the Colonial Empire.
Date:
1939
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: First report / Committee on Nutrition in the Colonial Empire. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    77/382 (page 69)
    186. Yeast extracts and autolysates are often given to assist in remedying specific deficiency diseases such as beri-beri. The proprietary articles are, however, too expensive to be used on a large scale. We think that Colonial Governments would do well to consider whether it would not be practicable to produce locally a concentrated article of similar nature which would be much cheaper and could therefore be more widely used. Thus, in Hong Kong, an extract of yellow beans (Glycina soya) and Tice polishings is now given in cases of beri-beri in place of marmite and seems to give considerable benefit. In general rice bran or polishings is a valuable article which should not be wasted.* _ 187. There is little doubt that the local ‘‘ beers ’’ which are frequently found and largely consumed have great nutritional significance, providing vitamin B complex (in the yeast), vitamin C (from germinated grains) and probably other valuable constituents. The use of these beers in moderation thus un- doubtedly has certain benefits from the nutritional point of view, whatever may be the other objections to it. In South America beri-beri has been shown not to exist in areas where local beer brewed from cereals is consumed. Again, it might be prac- ticable in certain territories to supply vitamin deficiencies by such means as the local production of fish liver oil. This too is a matter which is worthy of investigation. 188. Similarly, as the Sub-Committee mentioned above have also pointed out, mineral elements can sometimes be supplied in concentrated form. Calcium salts, iron, iodine, etc., can be supplied cheaply to school children and other groups suffering from deficiency of these elements. Such a measure may be financially feasible when expense forbids the supplying of milk or other valuable foods. For instance it has been shown that one of the most important defects of the poor rice eater’s diet is a deficiency of calcium. In such circumstances the regular provision of a calcium salt would do something to raise standards of nutrition. The same measure may be effective in the case of people living on other staples, for instance cassava (or tapioca), which are deficient in calcium. Prepared bone meal or flour has also been suggested as a source of calcium phosphate. 189. In some territories it would be useful if attention were given to the sources of supply of salt. Local sources are often capable of development and improvement and, where imports have to be relied upon, steps might be taken to ensure that the salt imported contained a minimum percentage of calcium, iodine and perhaps iron. We commend this suggestion to the attention of Colonial Governments. Bits - ol tween tis ir al. i eee '_ * We deal with questions relating to the processing of rice in the next chapter.