Beriberi and other Food-deficiency Diseases in Newfoundland and Labrador

Abstract

1. Beriberi occurring on a white-flour staple is similar to that occurring on a rice staple.2. Under the difficult climatic conditions of North Newfoundland and Labrador, families are obliged to buy food stores in November or December to last until the following May or June. When poverty prevents a sufficient variety of foodstuffs, and calories are the foremost consideration, white flour with few extras forms the main dietary, and beriberi tends to occur in April, May or June. It occurs in families who have grown few vegetables and shot little game.3. The disease attacks more men than women, and very rarely children between the ages of infancy and puberty. The age and sex incidences of beriberi are difficult of explanation and differ in different countries.4. Infantile beriberi probably occurs in Newfoundland and Labrador, but is largely unrecognised.5. The main cause of beriberi is vitamin B1 deficiency, but the diets of patients suffering from beriberi are deficient in other respects.6. It is suggested that the infrequency of wet beriberi in Newfoundland may be due to the fact that wheat flour has a higher protein content than polished rice.7. Since poverty and deficiency disease are rigidly associated, prevention is an economic rather than a medical problem.8. Severe scurvy and rickets are not often met.9. Functional hemeralopia or night-blindness occurs mainly during the summer among men. It occurs on a diet deficient in vitamin A, and is rapidly curable by vitamin A containing foods, a fact well known to the Newfound landers. The disease may occur in men taking a deficient diet for less than one month. Other evidences of vitamin A deficiency are lacking.10. Tuberculosis, severe dental caries, functional stomach complaints and constipation are common. Gastric and duodenal ulcer, diabetes and obesity are rare.