The concept of the excessive consumption of carbohydrates
as a cause of man)" diseases of civilisation has previously
been proposed under the name of the 'saccharine
disease'. A review of the hospital morbidity figures for these
diseases in a divisional hospital in the Fiji Islands is presented.
The hospital serves a population comprised of
Indians and Fijians, suggesting comparison with the province
of Natal, South Africa. Indians have a higher incidence
of diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, duodenal
ulcer, acute appendicitis, gallstones, renal stones and
eclampsia. Their diets differ mainly in the higher consumption
of refined fibre-depleted carbohydrates, and it
is suggested that the association is compatible with the
concept of the 'saccharine disease'.