Asia Pacific J Clin Nutr (1994) 3, 47

Book review

Introduction to nutrition and metabolism David A. Bender

London: UCL Press, 1993

ISBN 145728&07>6 (hb), 145728 07W2 (pb), 336 pp.

There is a growing appreciation that a large part of clinical medicine may be described as 'Nutritional and metabolic medicine' - inherited diseases of metabolism; nutritional modulation of genetic expression; nutritionally responsive functional impairments such as immunodeficiency; nutritionally reversible wasting disorders in cancer, malabsorption and infection; food component deficiencies which exacerbate diseases of macronutrient excess, like obesity, diabetes, macrovascular disease; and problems which are age- or menopause-related like osteopenia. An 'Introduction to Nutrition and Metabolism' might underpin this disciplinary development and in many ways the present volume does. It targets undergraduates, but it could be argued that the postgraduate or ongoing review of the health sciences require a book like it as well. There are quite succinct and lucid treatments of contemporary nutritional biochemistry in the present volume.

The author observes in the Preface

'It is neither possible nor appropriate to cite the original scientific literature which provides the (sometimes conflicting) evidence for the statements made. The bibliography lists some sources of more detailed information. In turn, these will lead the reader into research review essays, and thence the original research literature'.

It is a sense of the original research literature which is increasingly important for a field so rapidly changing, where dogma is unsafe, and where a sense of uncertainty is required to make the best decisions one can on the basis of evidence. It is a hard job for an introductory book, but at least the difficulty is acknowledged.

This is a book that will be combined with others in course and professional development.

Mark L. Wahlqvist
Department of Medicine
Monash Medical Centre
Monash University
Clayton, Victoria
Australia

Copyright © 1994 [Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition]. All rights reserved.
Please note: this article has been scanned and reformatted.
Please contact lshirven@ozemail.com.au if any errors are suspected.
Revised: February 24, 1999 .

 

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