Nutrient Deficiency Disease Flashcards
What is Nutrient deficiency disease?
Nutrient deficiency disease occur when the body doesn’t get enough of one or more essential vitamins or minerals needed for proper functioning.
Vitamin A Deficiency
Disease: Night Blindness / Xerophthalmia
Symptoms: Difficulty seeing in low light or at night, dry eyes, increased risk of infections, and in severe cases, blindness.
Causes: Lack of vitamin A in the diet, commonly found in liver, dairy products, and colorful vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes).
Treatment: Vitamin A supplementation or consuming more vitamin A-rich foods.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Disease: Rickets (in children) / Osteomalacia (in adults)
Symptoms: Soft, weak bones, deformities (like bowed legs in children), bone pain, muscle weakness.
Causes: Insufficient exposure to sunlight, lack of vitamin D-rich foods (like fortified milk, eggs, and fatty fish).
Treatment: Vitamin D supplements or increased sun exposure.
Vitamin C Deficiency
Disease: Scurvy
Symptoms: Fatigue, swollen gums, bruising, joint pain, poor wound healing, and bleeding gums.
Causes: Lack of vitamin C-rich foods, such as citrus fruits, strawberries, and bell peppers.
Treatment: Increase intake of vitamin C through fruits like oranges, or supplementation.
Iron Deficiency
Disease: Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Symptoms: Fatigue, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, and headaches.’
Causes: Insufficient dietary iron, blood loss (e.g., heavy menstruation), or poor absorption.
Treatment: Iron supplements and iron-rich foods like red meat, beans, spinach, and fortified cereals.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Deficiency
Disease: Beriberi
Symptoms: Muscle weakness, nerve damage, difficulty walking, heart problems, and fluid retention.
Causes: Inadequate intake of thiamine, commonly seen in populations with rice-based diets.
Treatment: Thiamine supplementation or increasing dietary intake of whole grains, pork, and legumes.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Disease: Pernicious Anemia
Symptoms: Fatigue, weakness, nerve damage, tingling or numbness in limbs, pale skin, and difficulty thinking.
Causes: Lack of vitamin B12, especially in vegans who do not consume animal products.
Treatment: Vitamin B12 supplements or consumption of animal products like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
Folate (Vitamin B9) Deficiency
Disease: Neural Tube Defects (in infants) / Megaloblastic Anemia
Symptoms: Fatigue, weakness, irritability, and poor growth. In pregnant women, folate deficiency can lead to birth defects like spina bifida.
Causes: Insufficient folate intake, common in pregnant women, alcoholics, or people with poor diets.
Treatment: Folate supplements and folate-rich foods such as leafy greens, legumes, and citrus fruits.
Iodine Deficiency
Disease: Goiter / Cretinism (in infants)
Symptoms: Swelling of the thyroid gland (goiter), developmental delay, cognitive issues in children (cretinism), and reduced thyroid function.
Causes: Insufficient iodine intake, particularly in areas where soil is deficient in iodine.
Treatment: Iodized salt and iodine supplements.
Calcium Deficiency
Disease: Osteoporosis / Rickets (in children)
Symptoms: Weak bones, fractures, bone pain, muscle cramps, and in severe cases, rickets or osteomalacia.
Causes: Low calcium intake, poor absorption, or lack of vitamin D.
Treatment: Increase calcium intake through dairy products, leafy greens, and fortified foods.
. Zinc Deficiency
Disease: Growth Retardation / Impaired Immune Function
Symptoms: Delayed growth, hair loss, poor wound healing, and weakened immune response.
Causes: Insufficient zinc in the diet, common in children, vegetarians, or those with poor absorption.
Treatment: Zinc supplements and zinc-rich foods like meat, shellfish, beans, and nuts.
General Prevention and Treatment:
General Prevention and Treatment:
Balanced Diet: The best way to prevent nutrient deficiencies is to consume a balanced, varied diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
Supplements: If deficiencies are present, supplements may be necessary to restore normal levels of essential nutrients.
Fortified Foods: Many countries add vitamins and minerals to common foods (like cereals, dairy, and flour) to help reduce deficiency rates.
Kwashiorkor
Kwashiorkor is a disease marked by severe protein malnutrition and bilateral extremity swelling. It usually affects infants and children, most often around the age of weaning through age 5.
Marasmus
Marasmus is a severe form of malnutrition — specifically, protein-energy undernutrition. It results from an overall lack of calories. Marasmus is a deficiency of all macronutrients: carbohydrates, fats, and protein.
Anemia
Anemia is when you have low levels of healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body.
