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Diet, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases
44
BOOK REVIEWS
Pathology (1992), 24, January
Chemistry and Specifications of Pesticides. Thirteenth Report of the WHO Expert Committee on Vector Biology and Control. World Health Organization, Geneva, 1990. ISBN 92-4-120798-1, pp. 77. US$7.20. The WHO Technical Report Series provide up to date and specialized information which is of considerable value to those working in various areas of health, agriculture and manufacturing industries in both developed and developing countries. Mankind shares this planet with a bewildering range of insects, molluscs and rodents which act as vectors for disease or cause disease themselves. The chemistry and biological significance of pesticides is therefore of global importance. This 77 page publication contains 9 major sections dealing with the development of pesticides, vector control in urban areas and households. Specifications and test methodologies for existing and new pesticides are presented succinctly. The greater part of the publication will be of technical value to those involved in testing the quality of pesticides. For those seeking it, there is virtually no information of the toxicity to man of these agents. The last four pages list the 58 most recent publications in this series plus 9 WHO technical reports in the field of pesiticides. Undoubtedly this report will complement the information contained in companion reports and should be regarded as one more of a large ongoing series. P. M . Dennis
Diet, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. Report of a WHO Study Group. World Health Organization, Geneva, 1990. ISBN 92-4-120797-3. pp. 203. US$20.80. The World Health Organization (WHO), created in 1948, is an international agency which makes it possible for health professionals among its 165 member countries to exchange their knowledge and experience. It has, as its ultimate aim, the promotion and “attainment by all citizens of the world by the year 2000 of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life.” An important medium of communication is the WHO Technical Report Series. This
report, numbered 797, represents the findings of 11 expert members and some 22 representatives of other international organizations who met in Geneva in March 1989. In the past, WHO study groups have concentrated on nutrition deficiency disease as it was prevalent in many developing countries. Although such diseases are still prevalent in some countries, and are an important cause of ill-health and premature death, nutrient-associated chronic diseases due to incorrect balance or an excess of nutrients are now of significant importance in virtually all countries of the world, developing and developed alike. Changes in dietary habits towards the “affluent” diet that prevails in many developed countries have been followed by increases in the incidence of various chronic diseases of middle and later adult life. This report discusses the relations between intake of the nutrients that should not be consumed in excess and incidence of chronic diseases, in particular, coronary heart disease, various cancers, and diabetes. The areas discussed include the changes in patterns of disease in relation to changes in diet and specifically covers dietary changes in Latin America, Africa, China, India and Japan. It summarizes the relationships between diet and chronic diseases including cardiovascular diseases and various cancers of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts, stomach, colon, liver, lung, breast, endometrium and prostate. The discussion extends into obesity, non-cancerous conditions of the large bowel such as diverticular disease, hemorrhoids and constipation, gallstones, osteoporosis, chronic liver and brain diseases, and other effects of alcohol and food contaminants, additives, bitoxins and mycotoxins. It also discusses dental caries and its relationship to sugars and fluoride. Finally, the report touches on the quantitative nutrient goals and their derivation and interpretation. The Appendix includes recommended dietary allowances, dietary guidelines for diabetes mellitus, rules for safe food preparation as well as a nutritional approach to food labelling. While this reviewer is not an expert in the areas of diet and nutrition, the relationship between dietary habits and chronic diseases as well as certain cancers made interesting reading. The coverage of the report is extensive and provides useful information of a general nature which can be used by both epidemiologists as well as pathologists. Despite being written by a committee, the text is generally clear and of a uniform quality throughout so that the 203 pages make easy reading. A . S-Y. Leong
BOOK REVIEWS
Pathology (1992), 24, January
Chemistry and Specifications of Pesticides. Thirteenth Report of the WHO Expert Committee on Vector Biology and Control. World Health Organization, Geneva, 1990. ISBN 92-4-120798-1, pp. 77. US$7.20. The WHO Technical Report Series provide up to date and specialized information which is of considerable value to those working in various areas of health, agriculture and manufacturing industries in both developed and developing countries. Mankind shares this planet with a bewildering range of insects, molluscs and rodents which act as vectors for disease or cause disease themselves. The chemistry and biological significance of pesticides is therefore of global importance. This 77 page publication contains 9 major sections dealing with the development of pesticides, vector control in urban areas and households. Specifications and test methodologies for existing and new pesticides are presented succinctly. The greater part of the publication will be of technical value to those involved in testing the quality of pesticides. For those seeking it, there is virtually no information of the toxicity to man of these agents. The last four pages list the 58 most recent publications in this series plus 9 WHO technical reports in the field of pesiticides. Undoubtedly this report will complement the information contained in companion reports and should be regarded as one more of a large ongoing series. P. M . Dennis
Diet, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. Report of a WHO Study Group. World Health Organization, Geneva, 1990. ISBN 92-4-120797-3. pp. 203. US$20.80. The World Health Organization (WHO), created in 1948, is an international agency which makes it possible for health professionals among its 165 member countries to exchange their knowledge and experience. It has, as its ultimate aim, the promotion and “attainment by all citizens of the world by the year 2000 of a level of health that will permit them to lead a socially and economically productive life.” An important medium of communication is the WHO Technical Report Series. This
report, numbered 797, represents the findings of 11 expert members and some 22 representatives of other international organizations who met in Geneva in March 1989. In the past, WHO study groups have concentrated on nutrition deficiency disease as it was prevalent in many developing countries. Although such diseases are still prevalent in some countries, and are an important cause of ill-health and premature death, nutrient-associated chronic diseases due to incorrect balance or an excess of nutrients are now of significant importance in virtually all countries of the world, developing and developed alike. Changes in dietary habits towards the “affluent” diet that prevails in many developed countries have been followed by increases in the incidence of various chronic diseases of middle and later adult life. This report discusses the relations between intake of the nutrients that should not be consumed in excess and incidence of chronic diseases, in particular, coronary heart disease, various cancers, and diabetes. The areas discussed include the changes in patterns of disease in relation to changes in diet and specifically covers dietary changes in Latin America, Africa, China, India and Japan. It summarizes the relationships between diet and chronic diseases including cardiovascular diseases and various cancers of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts, stomach, colon, liver, lung, breast, endometrium and prostate. The discussion extends into obesity, non-cancerous conditions of the large bowel such as diverticular disease, hemorrhoids and constipation, gallstones, osteoporosis, chronic liver and brain diseases, and other effects of alcohol and food contaminants, additives, bitoxins and mycotoxins. It also discusses dental caries and its relationship to sugars and fluoride. Finally, the report touches on the quantitative nutrient goals and their derivation and interpretation. The Appendix includes recommended dietary allowances, dietary guidelines for diabetes mellitus, rules for safe food preparation as well as a nutritional approach to food labelling. While this reviewer is not an expert in the areas of diet and nutrition, the relationship between dietary habits and chronic diseases as well as certain cancers made interesting reading. The coverage of the report is extensive and provides useful information of a general nature which can be used by both epidemiologists as well as pathologists. Despite being written by a committee, the text is generally clear and of a uniform quality throughout so that the 203 pages make easy reading. A . S-Y. Leong