DISEASES

Info about the Deficiency Disease

What are nutritional deficiencies?

The body requires many different vitamins and minerals that are crucial for both body development and preventing disease. These vitamins and minerals are often referred to as micronutrients. They aren’t produced naturally in the body, so you have to get them from your diet.

A nutritional deficiency occurs when the body doesn’t absorb or get from food the necessary amount of a nutrient. Deficiencies can lead to a variety of health problems. These can include digestion problems, skin disorders, stunted or defective bone growth, and even dementia.

The amount of each nutrient you should consume depends on your age. In the United States, many foods that you buy in the grocery store — such as cereals, bread, and milk — are fortified with nutrients that are needed to prevent nutritional deficiency.

But sometimes your body is unable to absorb certain nutrients even if you’re consuming them. It’s possible to be deficient in any of the nutrients your body needs.

Iron deficiency:

The most widespread nutritional deficiency worldwide is iron deficiency. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia. This is a blood disorder that causes fatigue, weakness, and a variety of other symptoms.

Iron is found in foods such as dark leafy greens, red meat, and egg yolks. It helps your body make red blood cells. When you’re iron-deficient, your body produces fewer red blood cells. The red blood cells it produces are smaller and paler than healthy blood cells. They’re also less efficient at delivering oxygen to your tissues and organs.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO)Trusted Source, over 30 percent of the world’s population is anemic. Many of these people are anemic due to iron deficiency.

In fact, it’s the only nutritional deficiency that’s prevalent in both developing and industrialized countries. Iron deficiency anemia affects so many people that it’s now widely recognized as a public health epidemic.

Vitamin A deficiency:

Vitamin A is a group of nutrients crucial for eye health and functioning and reproductive health in men and women. It also plays a part in strengthening the immune system against infections.

According to WHOTrusted Source, a lack of vitamin A is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children. Pregnant women deficient in vitamin A have higher maternal mortality rates as well.

Beta carotene is a nutrient that functions as an antioxidant. It’s found in red, orange, yellow, and dark green produce. Beta carotene can be converted to vitamin A in the body when needed.

For newborn babies, the best source of vitamin A is breast milk. For everyone else, it’s important to eat plenty of foods high in vitamin A. These include:

- milk

- egg

- green vegetables (such as: kale, broccoli, and spinach)

What causes nutritional deficiencies?

The main causes of nutritional deficiencies include a poor diet that lacks essential nutrients, a disease or medication that impairs absorption, or both. The body is able to store some nutrients, so a deficiency may not be caught until the body has been without the nutrient for some time. A number of diseases and conditions can lead to an iron deficiency. These include:

colon cancer, , imbalanced gut flora, , Crohn’s disease, celiac disease.

Pregnancy can also cause an iron deficiency if the body diverts iron to the fetus. Researchers have found associations between bariatric surgery, which reduces the size of the stomach to achieve weight loss, and nutritional deficiency. People who are candidates for bariatric surgery may already be nutrient-deficient due to poor diet. Talk to your doctor and dietitian before and after the surgery to set up a thorough nutrition plan.

What are the symptoms of nutritional deficiencies?

Some symptoms of the deficiency disease are: pale skin, fatigue, weakness, trouble breathing, unusual food cravings, hair loss, periods of lightheadedness, constipation, sleepiness, heart palpitations, feel like your about to faint, depression, numbness of joints, menstrual issues, poor concentration