Scientists based in Hyderabad, India, are considering plans to fortify milk with vitamin D to help tackle the growing problem of diabetes.
The National Institute of Nutrition has already fortified salt and wheat flour with essential nutrients to fight goitre and anaemia, and is now looking to do the same way with milk in an effort to help people delay or even prevent diabetes and hypertension, as well as other lifestyle disorders.
Fortification is the scientific process through which micronutrients are added to staple food to bridge deficiencies and make it extra nutritional.
Dr. Sesisekaran, Director of the Insititute, said he was concerned by the huge burden of the Vitamin D deficiency in India, which is "growing alarmingly" among the general population despite the abundance of sunshine in most parts.
"Milk is fortified with vitamin D in several countries. But we don't know if we will see the desired results in India as milk is not consumed in several rural pockets," he commented.
"We will be able to see success only if we encourage more people to consume milk."
People with metabolic syndrome caused by vitamin deficiency are twice more likely to develop cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and around five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes as those without the syndrome .
Nutritional Experts Plan To Fortify Milk To Combat Diabetes
Wed, 12 Oct 2011
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