Nutrition Case Study - FINAL

Hypercarotenemia

• high carotenoid concentration in blood

• Too many carrots or β-carotene supplements/pills

Vitamin D deficiencies

Osteomalacia: softening of bones in adults

Rickets: same thing in children

for both calcium absorption decreases

Who benefits from supplements? part 2

who benefits from supplements? part 1

Supplement	Who May Benefit
Multivitamin/ mineral supplement	People on restrictive diets (< 1200 kcal per day), vegans, vegetarians People with suboptimal diets (for example, in cases of food insecurity or picky eaters) People with malabsorptive diseases People who take medications that interfere with nutrient absorption or metabolism Older adults (over 50 years of age) Females who are pregnant or those of childbearing age
Various B vitamins	People who abuse alcohol
Folic Acid	Females of childbearing age (especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding)
Vitamin B-12	Older adults Strict vegans
Vitamin C	People who use tobacco

Too much Vitamin E

can interfere with Vitamin K and anticoagulant medications

Vitamin K deficiency

In infants:

• Vitamin K is administered by injection soon after birth

Infant’s gut at birth is sterile

• GI tract doesn’t have bacteria

• Can’t synthesize vitamin K needed for clotting if needed

In adults: 

• After long-term antibiotic use

• Fat malabsorption

Maternal Folate Deficiency

• Maternal folate deficiency (along with a genetic abnormality related to folate metabolism) has been linked to the development of neural tube defects in the fetus. 

• These defects include spina bifida (spinal cord or spinal fluid bulge through the back) and anencephaly (absence of a major portion of the brain).

Vitamin B-12 deficiency

common in vegans and older adults

Vitamin C

tobacco users need extra because of increased oxidation by tobacco smoke in the lungs

Too much Vitamin C

can be problematic for iron stores

stomach inflammation and diarrhea

kidneys rapidly excrete vitamin C

hyponatremia

TOO MUCH WATER

Sodium Deficiency

Groups at risk

• Low sodium intake

• Excessive perspiration

• Persistent vomiting or diarrhea

Symptoms

• Muscle cramps

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Dizziness

• Shock

• Coma

Potassium Deficiency

hypokalemia - low blood potassium

Causes

• Chronic diarrhea

• Vomiting

• Laxative abuse

• Diuretic use

• Alcohol abuse

• Eating disorders

• Very low-calorie diets

Symptoms

• Loss of appetite

• Muscle cramps

• Confusion

• Constipation

• Irregular heartbeat

chloride deficiency

lack of water, salt, fruits and veggies

Calcium deficiency

Tetany -

• muscles become stiff or twitch involuntarily

Magnesium Deficiency

Deficiency causes:

• Irregular heartbeat, weakness, muscle pain, disorientation, and seizures

• Disruption in hormonal regulation of blood calcium by parathyroid hormone

• Affects vitamin D activity

Magnesium loss caused by:

• Heavy perspiration

• Prolonged vomiting or diarrhea

• Diuretic use

• Alcohol use disorders increase urinary magnesium excretion

Iron Deficiency

Anemia

TOO much Zinc

Toxicity from zinc supplements and overconsumption of zinc-fortified foods

• Interferes with copper metabolism

• Intakes over 50 milligrams: diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite

• Intakes over 300 milligrams: depressed immune system function

Selenium Deficiency

Selenium content of foods: 

• Strongly dependent on selenium content of soil where plants are raised or animals graze

• Low blood levels linked to increased risk of some types of cancer specifically prostate

Symptoms: 

• Muscle pain and wasting, heart damage, and thyroid dysfunction

Iodine Deficiency

Goiter: enlargement of thyroid gland caused by insufficient dietary iodine

• During pregnancy—causes congenital hypothyroidism

Fluoride deficiency

cavaties?

Chromium deficiency

Deficiency symptoms:

• Impaired glucose control

• Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides

Osteopenia vs Osteoporosis

Osteopenia 

• Moderately low bone mineral density

• Precursor to osteoporosis

Osteoporosis 

• Severely low bone mineral density 

• Bones are porous, fragile, and susceptible to fracture