In a country where health issues hardly, if ever, dominate public discourse, no ailment is regarded shocking enough, until it claims casualties. It is for this reason why findings by the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health needs the consideration of the government, policymakers and public alike.

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Their study revealed that zinc deficiency has been on the rise in India in the last three decades. As per data, there has been a 25 per cent rise in zinc deficiency between 1983 to 2012 — in numerical terms, it is equivalent to 8.2 crore people.

Shortage of this chemical can have far-reaching consequences like a decline of the immune system and increased inflammation associated with many health problems, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. New studies have revealed that this shortage may decrease protein stability and cause clumping, contributing to diseases like Alzheimer and Parkinson’s.

The lead authors of the report talk of a subject that hardly seems to bother anyone. According to them, there has been a demographic shift in India with reduced fertility. The ageing of the Indian population has caused the zinc requirement for the average Indian to increase by 5 per cent because adults need more zinc than children.

The worst-hit are the South and northeastern states, where white rice is the staple diet and has poor zinc content. What is of crucial significance is the vicious circle of tradition and policy, which would need a lot of attention if an equitable solution is expected to be arrived at.

The rural population is moving from traditional coarse cereals like jowar to white rice, which is subsidised by the government, leaving them with no choices. It makes sense to fortify food as a short term remedy, but the long term solution is to guide people to make the right food choices.