Lahore—The speakers at a symposium said that vitamins-B deficiency is the major cause of malnutrition and diabetes, leading to a neurologic disorder. Supplementation of vitamin B1, B6 and B12 is a treatment option in vitamin B deficiency. They said that malnutrition is a main health problem, especially in the developing countries and even in developed countries it is rising due to dietary habits.
This was highlighted in a scientific symposium on Vitamin-B and Its Role where renowned healthcare professionals and consultant physicians shared their experiences and views with the participants.
The symposium was arranged by the Merck Pakistan, celebrating 50th anniversary of the global marketing of its vitamin-B combination supplements.
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Neurobion worldwide, the organizers reiterated their commitment to continue to treat vitamin B deficiencies and the associated clinical manifestations with the same zeal and passion as was shown in past.
Dr Muhammad Nasir Malik, Associate Professor of Medicine, Allama Iqbal Medical College and consultant at Jinnah Hospital Lahore was the chairperson of the symposium. Dr Seemeen Hussain, associate professor of medicine, Fatima Jinnah Medical College, SGR Hospital, Lahore, spoke on the topic of Vitamin B Deficiency Condition while Dr Shahid Mehmood, consultant and physician at Hameed Latif Hospital spoke on the topic of Diabetic Neuropathy.
The speakers, discussing the importance of vitamin B in the human body, said that its deficiency could greatly affect life and cause illness. In its different forms vitamin B could help people manage their weight and ensure proper functioning of immune and nervous systems, the experts said. They said vitamins played key role in energy metabolism, building of strong bones and keeping muscles strong and healthy, the experts added.
They said that the history of vitamin deficiency went back to centuries when scurvy probably the first illness to be recognised as a nutritional disorder occurred in Portuguese sailors, who were finally asked to be dropped off on a nearby island.
It was an English biochemist, Sir Frederick Hopkins, a Nobel laureate, who discovered vitamins in the first quarter of the 20th century, they said.
They said food that contained vitamin B1 (thiamin), which helped convert carbohydrates into energy, was necessary for a healthy brain, nerves cells and heart function.
They said around the world, the number of patients with diabetes is expected to rise from 366 million people in 2011 to 552 million by 2030. It is estimated that 25% of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients will develop early stage diabetic nephropathy within 10 years.
Elaborating further he said the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in type 2 diabetic patients is quite common. Vitamin B12 deficient diabetics are at risk for hyperhomocysteinemia, megaloblastic anemia, damage to brain- and nervous system -functions. Promising studies indicate that supplementation of thiamine can reverse early diabetes induced renal damage or slow down progression of diabetic nephropathy.
Vitamin-B deficiencies may have various degrees of severity. They may be due to several conditions including among others a vegetarian diet or pathologies like diabetes or alcoholism. Lack of these vitamins can remain undetected for many years. Early detection aims at preventing the effects of the deficiency and its long-term complications.
The speakers appreciating the services of the Merck Pakistan, said that the company is a pioneer in vitamin-B combination supplements with Neurobion widely used in the treatment of vitamin B1, B6 and B12 deficiencies.
Neurobion was first marketed globally in 1962, but in Pakistan, the product is 40 years old and a leading brand in vitamins-B. Merck is also pioneer in introducing the Biothesiometers in Pakistan.
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