Environmental and Nutritional Diseases

These flashcards cover key concepts related to environmental and nutritional diseases, including definitions and descriptions of various terms relevant to the lecture.

Severe Protein-Energy Malnutrition

A condition that arises from inadequate intake of protein and energy, leading to serious health issues.

Malnutrition

A deficiency, excess or imbalance in a person's intake of energy and/or nutrients.

Kwashiorkor

A form of severe malnutrition characterized by protein deficiency with adequate calorie intake, leading to edema and other symptoms.

Marasmus

A form of severe malnutrition caused by inadequate intake of all macronutrients, characterized by weight loss and muscle wasting.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

A measure that uses height and weight to estimate body fat and categorize individuals as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese.

Vitamin A Deficiency

A lack of vitamin A resulting in symptoms like night blindness and xerophthalmia.

Vitamin D

A fat-soluble vitamin essential for maintaining calcium and phosphorus levels in the body, important for bone health.

Hypervitaminosis A

A toxic condition resulting from excessive accumulation of vitamin A in the body.

Anorexia Nervosa

A psychiatric disorder characterized by an irrational fear of weight gain leading to severe starvation and weight loss.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

A water-soluble vitamin important for biosynthesis and collagen maintenance, whose deficiency leads to scurvy.

Obesity

An accumulation of adipose tissue to a degree that it impairs health, classified by BMI.

Malabsorption Syndromes

Conditions in which the intestine does not properly absorb nutrients from food.

Electrolyte imbalance

A disturbance in the levels of electrolytes in the body, which can lead to serious health problems.

Dietary Supplements

Products taken orally that contain dietary ingredients intended to supplement the diet.

Atherosclerosis

A disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries, leading to reduced or blocked blood flow.

Thyroid Hormones

Hormones produced by the thyroid that regulate metabolism, growth, and development.

Diet and Cancer

The relationship between dietary habits and the incidence of different types of cancer.

Nutrient Toxicity

A condition resulting from excess intake of certain nutrients, leading to adverse health effects.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins A, D, E, and K that are stored in body fat and can accumulate to toxic levels.

Water-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins that dissolve in water and are not stored in the body (e.g., Vitamin C and B vitamins).