Difference between revisions of "Nutrition disorder"

Latest revision as of 20:07, 21 September 2010

Nutritional Diseases are diseases in humans that are directly or indirectly caused by a lack of essential nutrients in the diet. Nutritional diseases are commonly associated with chronic malnutrition. Additionally, conditions such as obesity from overeating can also cause, or contribute to, serious health problems. Excessive intake of some nutrients can cause acute poisoning.

Overnutrition

Metabolic

Obesity is caused by consuming too many calories compared to the amount of exercise the body is performing, causing a distorted energy balance. It can lead to diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Obesity is a condition in which the natural energy reserve, stored in the fatty tissue of humans and other mammals, is increased to a point where it is associated with certain health conditions or increased mortality.

The low-cost food that is generally affordable to the poor in affluent nations is low in nutritional value and high in fats, sugars and additives. In rich countries, therefore, obesity is oftentimes a sign of poverty and malnutrition while in poorer countries obesity is more associated with wealth and good nutrition. Other non-nutritional causes for unhealthy obesity included: sleep deprivation, stress, lack of exercise, and heredity.

Acute overeating can also be a symptom of an eating disorder.

Goitrogenic foods can cause goitres by interfering with iodine uptake.

Vitamins and micronutrients

Vitamin poisoning is the condition of overly high storage levels of vitamins, which can lead to toxic symptoms. The medical names of the different conditions are derived from the vitamin involved: an excess of vitamin A, for example, is called "hypervitaminosis A".

Iron overload disorders are diseases caused by the overaccumulation of iron in the body. Organs commonly affected are the liver, heart and endocrine glands.

Deficiencies

Proteins/fats/carbohydrates

• Protein-energy malnutrition
  • Kwashiorkor
  • Marasmus
  • Mental retardation^[2]

Dietary vitamins and minerals

• Calcium
  • Osteoporosis
  • Rickets
  • Tetany
• Iodine deficiency
  • Goiter
• Selenium deficiency
  • Keshan disease
• Iron deficiency
  • Iron deficiency anemia
• Zinc
  • Growth retardation
• Thiamine (Vitamin B₁)
  • Beriberi
• Niacin (Vitamin B₃)
  • Pellagra
• Vitamin C
  • Scurvy
• Vitamin D
  • Osteoporosis
  • Rickets

Complex disorders

In some cases, eating too much of one thing can induce an apparent deficiency of something else. A common example occurs when livestock eat locoweed: locoweed contains a toxin that inhibits enzymes, simulating a deficiency of the enzymes.

Foot notes

See also

• Avitaminosis
• Malnutrition
• Essential nutrient
• List of ICD-10 codes (E54-E64) -- detailed taxonomy
• Obesity
• Osteoporosis

1. ↑ "Mortality and Burden of Disease Estimates for WHO Member States in 2002" (xls). World Health Organization. 2002. 
2. ↑ "Malnutrition Is Cheating Its Survivors, and Africa’s Future" article in the New York Times by Michael Wines, December 28, 2006