My perspective - I may have a different take on many things

Posted by NutritionistsRepublic By R Shankar An Indian researcher has found that a compound produced from fish oil appears to target leukemia stem cells that could lead to a cure for the disease. Sandeep Prabhu, associate professor of immunology and molecular toxicology in the Department of Veterinary and Medical Sciences, Penn State University, was involved in developing the compound called delta-12-protaglandin J3, or D12-PGJ3 that targeted and killed the stem cells of chronic myelogenous leukemia, or CML, in mice. The compound is produced from EPA -- Eicosapentaenoic Acid -- an Omega-3 fatty acid found in fish and in fish oil, he said. "Research in the past on fatty acids has shown the health benefits of fatty acids on cardiovascular system and brain development, particularly in infants, but we have shown that some metabolites of Omega-3 have the ability to selectively kill the leukemia-causing stem cells in mice," said Prabhu. "The important thing is ...

Two recent trends in India may force nutritionist to think differently. According to data from the recent census, for the first time, urban population has far outnumbered the rural numbers and, secondly, women constitute a larger chunk of the population in cities and towns than has ever been recorded in Indian history. The 2001 census figures point out that for the first time since 1921, urban India has added more population in a decade than rural India did. Gandhiji's statement that India lives in her village may now have to undergo a rethink just as nutritionists may have to rethink strategies to tackle nutrition deficiencies in sprawling urban areas. India's rural population today stands at 833.1 million. This means in a decade, there has been a phenomenal increase of 90.6 million. There are three possible causes: migration, natural increase and inclusion of new areas as urban. Possible causes and theories apart, what India will soon be facing is a strange p...