This book envisages new estimates of the public health importance of iron and zinc deficiency prevailing in Pakistani population, and put glimpses on different diseases caused by these micronutrients in children and particularly women. This book put more emphasizes on strategies and solutions for combating these deficiencies in Pakistani people. These micronutrients when taken individually or in combination may prevent several deadly ailments. More work is required to estimate the levels of these two minerals in masses in Pakistan. Their individual role in disease prevention with functional evidences through clinical trials is need of the day in under developed areas. Such data in large population may be used later on for developing supplementation strategies on national level. Issues such as zinc supplementation alone, in combination with iron or with other micronutrients should be better addressed. Researchers are exploring effect of combined supplementation and its effect on zinc status, but the data are not clear regarding morbidity outcomes. Combined supplementation of iron and zinc may provide an efficient way to combat deficiency symptoms of both minerals.

Pleurotus ostreatus, the oyster mushroom, is a common edible mushroom. It was first cultivated in Germany as a subsistence measure during World War II and is now grown commercially around the world for food. Oyster mushroom is called as "king oyster mushroom." Oyster mushrooms can also be used industrially for mycoremediation purposes. The oyster mushroom may be considered a medicinal mushroom, since it contains statins such as lovastatin which work to reduce cholesterol. Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) grows wild in forests of hilly areas in northern Pakistan. These are collected by local people for eating and selling purposes. The sun-dried mushroom is sold in metropolitan departmental stores. Only a few species of Oyster mushroom have been commercially cultivated. It is rated high in taste, amino-acid composition and keeping quality.