The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-07-17
vITAMIN B COMPLEX AND
 APPETITE

E11AQW4N ID OOMEAE2h kAGND
 APPETITE
 Generally for many months be- fore the nature of their trouble is recognized or even suspected indi- viduals developing beriheri Gin Singhalese beriberi means extreme weakness) suffer loss of strength constant fatigue, and vague sen- sation of heaviness and stiffness in the legs which makes 1t difficult to walk any distance They complain of headache, insomnia, nervous ness", dizziness, shortness of breath. When the disease becomes well established, and not before they experience the loss of appetite which is one of the characteristic manifestations of advanced beri- beri.
 It is only in recent years that the occurrence of beriberi has been recognized as fairly common nu- tritional disease in America. Un- fortunately physicians here took only @ casual interest in the dis ease, as 1t was e tropical" disease more or less confined to the Orient and thus the idea became fixed in the medical mind in America that loss of appetite is characteristic of beriberi and you need not give 1t another thought as long as you have any appetite.
 Insufficient intake of vitamin B complex Is the cause of beriberi particularly the Bl (thiamin) en- tity, but other entities of the B complex are nearly as essential as thiamin is to prevent and cure beriberi.
 One of the early effects of insuf- ficient intake of vitamin B complex is diminished "tone" in the invol- untary muscle of the alimentagy tract; or call 1t flabbiness. Every body's complaint constipatlon-is the usual manifestation of thie flabbiness. But another manifesto ton, of greater significance, Is sel- dom correctly interpreted, because of the medical obsession already described, the notion that loss of appetite is primary or funda- mental result of serious vitamin B deflciency. This is the increased desire for carbohydrate food which most persons in the early stage os beriberi in this country experience. It leads to overindulgence in starches, sugars, sweets and to flabby obesity - not to mention di- abetes-in many cases.
 Study and cogitation of the phy- siology of appetite and hunger (they are not the same) gives no certain light on this manifestation but in my own crude fashion I as- sume that when the stomach pouch is bit flabby from lowered tone one craves larger amount of food, to give that sense of fulness or re- pletion, and since refined carbohy- drates are most plentiful, economi- cal and easy to eat, hungry or not or even on the run, one just goes all out on such items today, always of course, intending to follow a more rational diet tomorrow.
 Tomorrow = well, come again and we'll see about that
 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
 Mere Tyro
 have been taking your "Iodin Ration" for twenty years and at- tribute my good health to 1t. (Mrs L. L.)
 Answer - Few if any adults or children get enough iodine in food or drink to i'll the requirements of the body, nowadays. On request if you inclose stamped envelope bear ing your address, OF Doc Brady will send you Instructions for Tax ing an Iodin Ration"
 Cold, Numb, Burning Feet
 I wrote you about my feet get ting cold on top, then burning numbness in feet and legs keeping me awake at night. You suggested calcium and vitamin D. Have taken a box of them and there is great improvement already. Should I continue them, or take them oc- casionally? (F. B.
 Answer - Regard them as food rather than medicine. Take one or two daily for a few months. to supplement your diet which is probably deficient in calcium and vitamin D.
 starch and Protein Combination
 Suffered for years with stomach trouble. Many physicians and gpe- cialists failed to give relief. Finally consulted specialist of national reputation. who instructed me never to take any starchy food with either prOtelns or fruits. Since adopted that rule I have had nc further stomach trouble. lN.A.P.)
 Answer = What, no wheat ol wheat products. no potatoes, no breadstHaEa. no cereals of any kinda Absurd, son. 1f your freak dieting gave relief iE was because you atf less than before oF because you hap. pensd to get an increased iIl. lake of viGamin. No special ist"--he prohably was not . physls cian-eall condelnn the foods men. iioned because they contain starch nne uFutein. 0niY cllnfIafnne ex. sssssaf a.ls1a1a1na nsn4asff&a4 fe4 AI4m& 1.Iaal