‘Integrate nutritional therapy with medicine to treat diseases’

Nutrient mineral-level tests on patients of autism have shown low zinc content. Similarly, low levels of magnesium is common among most patients of cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and arthritis, said A. Sreekumar, president of the Indian Nutritional Medical Association (INMA).

Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of the Nutritional Medicine and Wellness conclave organised by the Department of Studies in Food Science and Nutrition as part of the University of Mysore’s centenary celebrations here recently, Dr. Sreekumar said the relationship between nutrition and diseases had been proven with scientific evidence. Hence, he favoured integration of nutritional therapy with medicine for treatment of various diseases.

Claiming that mineral density tests on the Indian population have shown high incidence of zinc-copper imbalance, Dr. Sreekumar said the condition in which zinc levels are low and copper levels are high is associated with mental health diseases such as depression, besides menstrual problems among women. “When the imbalance of nutrients is addressed along with medicine, the treatment of patients becomes more effective,” he claimed.

Dr. Sreekumar said the association has taken up the cause of clinical application of nutrition among doctors and even encouraged them to inject nutrients.

He, however, sought to caution people against consumption of calcium supplements without adequate intake of magnesium. The human body’s magnesium requirement comes from freshly grown greens. “Without sufficient quantity of magnesium intake, one will be exposing themselves to increased cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis and arthritis,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Department of Studies in Food Science and Nutrition Asna Urooj said the university is looking into the prospect of starting an academic programme tailor-made for practising doctors and medicalcare professionals for understanding of the complex relationship between nutrition and diseases.

‘People against consumption of calcium supplements without adequate intake of magnesium’