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Objective-To determine the concentrations of blood lead (PbB) in pregnant women in the slums of Lucknow, north India. Methods-Of the 203 designated municipal slums in Lucknow, 70 were randomly selected for study and a cohort of 500 pregnant women was enrolled. Each participant was interviewed with questions on possible sources of exposure to lead, surrogates of nutritional status were measured, and PbB was measured.Results-The mean PbB was 14*3 ug/dl and 19*2% of women had PbB > 20 pgldl.PbB was not associated with age, height, weight, gestation, or history of abortions, although higher PbB was associated with higher parity. Women living in inner city neighbourhoods near heavy vehicular traffic had PbB 2*2 pg/dl higher (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0'8 to 3.6) than those living in other neighbourhoods. The PbB was not associated with reported use of piped water or the presence of paint in homes, and increasing PbB was unexpectedly associated with decreasing use of the eye cosmetic "surma" and the duration of gestation. Conclusions-The high PbB found in this population raises concern about fetal development and points to the urgent need to reduce exposure to lead. (Occup Environ Med 1996;53:836-840)

The foundational elements of cells and tissues are water, lipid, protein, mineral, vitamins, and carbohydrates. A healthy and varied diet, fortified food & nutraceuticals that provide appropriate macro and micronutrients are required to maintain healthy functioning and wear and tear of the human body. Nutraceuticals (Nutrition + pharmaceuticals) are isolated nutrients or dietary supplements that provide medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. Thus, nutribiography and nutraceutical science are practical tools for every physician, along with dietary and other lifestyle measures. These approaches help to achieve primordial and quaternary prevention. It also enables better management of disorders and diseases along with the standard of care. A guidance document and consensus recommendations were required to facilitate the rational use of nutraceuticals. Fourteen experts gathered and deliberated on the latest data on nutraceuticals and their role in enhancing patient care. The resulting consensus will help optimal use of nutraceuticals and standard of care to improve patient's health span and achieve healthy aging.

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