Malnutrition, Disease, and the Developing World

Abstract

We commend the generosity of Bill Gates for his plan to reduce human diseases, especially in developing countries (“Bill Gates plans a hit list, with NIH's help,” M. Enserink, 31 Jan., p. [641][1]). Tuberculosis, malaria, AIDS, and other diseases are increasing worldwide ([1][2]). One of the factors contributing to these increases is a rise in malnutrition, which is making people more susceptible to a wide array of diseases. According to the World Health Organization, more than 3 billion people worldwide are malnourished (including calorie, protein, vitamins, iron, and iodine deficiencies) ([2][3]). People are dying from any one or combinations of nutrient deficiencies, but of equal concern is their increased susceptibility to infections. Unfortunately, to successfully tackle the problem of human diseases, we cannot deal only with one aspect of the problem. World population is increasing rapidly and is projected to double to 12 billion in about 50 years ([3][4]). Food production per capita, based on cereal grains, which are estimated to provide about 80% of the world's food, has been declining for nearly two decades ([4][5]). More than 99% of the world's food comes from agriculture. Growing water shortages are plaguing agricultural production. Agriculture consumes more than 70% of the world's fresh water ([5][6]). In some areas, water is so polluted that it is unsafe for agricultural production and human use. Reports indicate that 90% of human infections with diseases in developing countries are attributed to polluted water ([6][7]). Thus, we encourage a holistic approach to reducing the disease burden in developing countries. Such an effort would include reducing population growth, increasing the food nutrient supply, providing clean sources of fresh water, and researching prevention and treatment of the various diseases plaguing humans. Placing emphasis only on measures to decrease death rates, without at the same time dealing with the factors that affect birth rates, would greatly exacerbate the world's population problem ([7][8]). In addition, improving economic development, increasing education and political stability, and increasing support of research are needed to help reduce the human burden of diseases and malnutrition. 1. [↵][9]1. D. Pimentel 1. Y. Kim , in Biological Invasions: Economic and Environmental Costs of Alien Plant, Animal, and Microbe Species, D. Pimentel, Ed. (CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2002), pp. 331-354. 2. [↵][10]1. WHO , Micronutrient Malnourishment: Half the World's Population Affected (No. 78 (World Health Organization, Geneva, 1996), pp. 1-4. 3. [↵][11] (2002)Population Reference Bureau, Washington, DC. 4. [↵][12]Vital Signs: The Trends that are Shaping Our Future (Norton, New York, 2001). 5. [↵][13]Vital Water Graphics, Water Use and Management (United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris, 2002)(see [www.unep.org/VitalWater/15.htm][14]). 6. [↵][15]Effects of the Current and Future Population on Food Supply (Alternative Energy Institute, )(see [www.altenergy.org/2/population/effects/effects.html][16]). 7. [↵][17]See [www.bized.ac.uk/virtual/dc/copper/theory/th10.htm][18]. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.299.5607.641b [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #ref-3 [5]: #ref-4 [6]: #ref-5 [7]: #ref-6 [8]: #ref-7 [9]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [10]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [11]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3 in text [12]: #xref-ref-4-1 View reference 4 in text [13]: #xref-ref-5-1 View reference 5 in text [14]: http://www.unep.org/VitalWater/15.htm [15]: #xref-ref-6-1 View reference 6 in text [16]: http://www.altenergy.org/2/population/effects/effects.html [17]: #xref-ref-7-1 View reference 7 in text [18]: http://www.bized.ac.uk/virtual/dc/copper/theory/th10.htm