VITAMINS 367 



5, 000, ()()() Americans is jjoor to the extent ol 20 per cent excessive 

 weight. Instances ol pathological o\eiweight Ironi other causes cer- 

 tainly occin- but are rare by comparison. In the usual cases people 

 just eat too much. Malnutrition ol this kind is probably social and 

 psychological to a great extent. 



In economically poor countries, malnutrition takes the form of 

 starvation and, when less acute, of the vitamin-deficiency diseases dis- 

 cussed throughout this chapter. Another very widespread dietary 

 disease called kwashiorkor is basically due to lack of protein com- 

 plicated with vitamin deficiencies. This disease, which may now be 

 the most widespread of the serious dietary disorders, kills large num- 

 bers of people annually. It is quite common among the poor classes of 

 Latin America, Africa, India, antl other areas depending on grains 

 without adequate meat or fish. 



REFERENCES 



The Vilaiuins. Edited by W. H. Scbicll and R. S. Harris. Academic Press, New 

 York, 1954. 



Vitamins in Theory and Pidctice. L. J. Harris. Cambridge University Press, Cam- 

 bridge, England, 1955. 



Biochemistry and Physiology of Xutrilion. Edited by G. H. Bourne and G. VV. Kid- 

 der. Academic Press, New York, 1953. 



Cheniislry and Physiology of the I'llamins. H. R. Rosenberg. Interscience Publish- 

 ers, New York, 1945. 



