Abstract:There is considerable scientific evidence that many aspects of diet influence the occurrence of human disease. Many factors such as genetic, psychological, environmental and behavioral characteristics influence development of human disease, and there is a close relationship between nutrition and disease. Though typical Western diets are not overtly deficient in essential nutrients, nutriture of a few micro nutrients such as folic acid has been reported to be sub-optimal, particularly in women of childbearing age. The role of folic acid in the prevention of macrocytic anemia and neural tube defects is well established. However, the relationship between folic acid and risk of autism is still evolving. Furthermore, environmental as well as nutritional factors such as folic acid are now well acknowledged as interacting with the individual genetic background in development of several diseases. In this article, recent research regarding the relationship between folic acid and risk of autism is evaluated.

What non‐diabetic adults know about diabetes does not seem to have been previously quantified in the UK. This information would be helpful in planning the education of newly diagnosed diabetics, their families and the public. Five hundred self‐administered questionnaires were completed by employed people in different parts of Avon County, England. Of these questionnaires, 436 were suitable for analysis. Total knowledge scores were greater for respondents in Social Classes 1, 2 and 3 non‐manual, compared with other social classes, and for respondents with diabetics amongst their family or friends, compared with persons not familiar with diabetics. At least 60% of respondents knew that diabetes was not an infectious disease, that the disease can be helped with treatment and that it is treated with diet and injections. Less than 30% of the respondents knew that diabetes may affect the feet, that it may affect the bowels, that some diabetics are not able to join the police force, or do shift work, that smoking is more dangerous for diabetics and that adults can lessen their chances of developing diabetes. Eighteen per cent thought that diabetes need not be managed by either a general practitioner or hospital. The correct first aid management of unconscious diabetic patients was also not widely appreciated. These findings show that diabetes is poorly understood in the community. For the newly diagnosed diabetic and for the public, background knowledge, expectations and misconceptions about the disease still need to be identified and corrected.

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