Informatics Publishing Limited

Ajanta Ghosh ¹, Indira Chakravarty ¹

Affiliations
1 All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta - 700 073, IN

Abstract

In the recent time, most of the synthetic chemicals that are being used to colour food, drugs and cosmetics are aromatic compounds. Unfortunately many of them have been withdrawn from the market because of their effects. Amaranth, a very popular red coloured dye was reported to cause potential gonadotoxic and embryotoxic effect. It was further reported to produce deformities in the young, increase the number of still births, decrease fertility and reduce the survival of the young Erythrosine, another red coloured dye was found to cause learning disabilities as well as altered behaviour in children. Several other dyes were reported to produce sarcomas of the peritoneum and intestinal tract; increased incidence of several subclinical conditions.

Full Text

     

Indira Chakravarty ¹, Saraswati Bulusu ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta, IN

Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency has been identified as a leading nutritional deficiency disorder among young children and a major reason for causing blindness. A survey conducted by ICMR during 1971-74 on all India basis indicated that the cause of blindness for 2 per cent of the total 9 million blinds in the country were attributable to corneal diseases caused by vitamin A deficiency. Similar studies conducted by ICMR during 1965-69 had shown that about 7 per cent children in the age group of 1-5 years had ocular signs and vitamin A deficiency.

Full Text

     

Deepti Das ¹, Indira Chakravarty ¹

Affiliations
1 Nutrition Research and Training Centre, Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, 110, Chittaranjan Avenue, Calcutta-700 073, IN

Abstract

Malnutrition particularly undernutrition is a major public health problem in the developing countries of the world today. India in very recent years has become self sufficient from the agricultural point of view, but the problem of malnutrition still continues undebatedly and it is still considered to be one of the major issues that has to be tackled.

Full Text

     

Renuka Sreedhar ¹, K. K. Ghosh ¹, Indira Chakravarty ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, All India Institute of Hygene and Public Health, Calcutta, IN

Abstract

Undernutrition in boys has been frequently reported to cause delayed onset of sexual maturation. However, the mechanisms through which undernutrition brings about this delay in the onset of puberty still remains uncertain. It is well established that the anterior pituitary gonadotrophins, LH (Luteinizing Hormone) and FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), play a critical role both prior to and during puberty in bringing about sexual maturation.

Full Text

     

Ajanta Ghosh ¹, Indira Chakravarty ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, 110, Chittaranjan Avenue, Calcutta - 700 073, IN

Abstract

Lac dye or Laccaic acid is a brilliantly red coloured dye obtained during the steps of commercial shellac preparation from crude lac. Lac itself is a hardened secretion of a tiny insect called Laccifer lacca or Coccus lacca, popularly known as lac insect.

Full Text

     

Indira Chakravarty ¹, Renuka Sreedhar ¹, Sudhin Roy ¹

Affiliations
1 All India Institute of Hygiene & Public Health, 110. Chittaranjan Avenue, Calcutta - 700 012, IN

Abstract

The use of pesticides is considered to be indispensable for the production of an adequate food supply for an increasing world population and for the control of insect borne diseases. But the indiscriminate use of these chemicals causes severe health hazards.

Full Text

     

Indira Chakravarty ¹, Renuka Sreedhar ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Calcutta-700 012, IN

Abstract

The usual food colors used till date are mostly synthetic and chemically artificial such as the azo and fluoresein dyes.

Full Text