Nutritional Disorders Notes

Nutritional Disorders

  • Definition: Nutritional disorders are health issues resulting from the body receiving inadequate or excessive nutrients.

  • Types:

    • Undernutrition: Inadequate nutrient intake, leading to deficiencies.
    • Examples:
      • Vitamin deficiencies (e.g., vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy)
      • Mineral deficiencies (e.g., iron deficiency anemia)
      • Protein deficiency (e.g., kwashiorkor)
    • Overnutrition: Excessive nutrient intake, often leading to obesity and related diseases.
    • Examples:
      • Obesity
      • High blood pressure
      • Heart disease
      • Type 2 diabetes

Nutritional Deficiency Disorders

  • Protein Deficiency: Causes Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM), resulting in:
    • Kwashiorkor
    • Marasmus
    • Marasmic-kwashiorkor
    • Required intake: 0.8 – 1.2 gm/kg body weight

Vitamins and Their Roles

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

  • Vitamin A (Retinol):

    • Function: Production of rhodopsin (light receptor pigment), epithelial tissue maintenance, growth, reproduction.
    • Deficiency: Night blindness, keratinization of epithelium.
    • Food sources: Liver, whole milk, egg yolk, yellow vegetables.

  • Vitamin D:

    • Function: Major hormone regulator of calcium and phosphorus metabolism.
    • Deficiency: Rickets in children, osteomalacia in adults.
    • Sources: Sunlight, fortified milk, fish oils.

  • Vitamin E (Tocopherols):

    • Function: Antioxidant, hemopoiesis.
    • Deficiency: Anemia in premature infants, poor antioxidant function.
    • Sources: Nuts, seeds, vegetable oils.

  • Vitamin K:

    • Function: Activates blood-clotting factors.
    • Deficiency: Hemorrhagic disease in newborns.
    • Sources: Green leafy vegetables.

Water-Soluble Vitamins

  • Vitamin B Complex:
    • Thiamin: Carbohydrate metabolism; deficiency leads to beriberi.
    • Riboflavin: General metabolism; deficiency causes cheilosis, glossitis.
    • Niacin: Metabolism function; deficiency causes pellagra.
    • Folate (Folic Acid): DNA synthesis, deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia.
    • Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin): Nerve function, deficiency can cause pernicious anemia.

Major Minerals and Trace Elements

Major Minerals

  • Calcium (Ca):

    • Function: Bone health, blood clotting, muscle function.
    • Deficiency: Osteoporosis, rickets.
    • Sources: Dairy, leafy greens.

  • Phosphorus (P):

    • Function: Bone health, energy metabolism.
    • Deficiency: Poor bone health.

  • Magnesium (Mg):

    • Function: Muscle and nerve function; coenzyme.
    • Deficiency: Muscle cramps.

Trace Elements

  • Iron (Fe):

    • Function: Oxygen transport; deficiency can lead to anemia.
    • Sources: Red meat, legumes.

  • Zinc (Zn):

    • Function: Enzyme function; deficiency affects immunity and wound healing.

Factors Affecting Nutritional Disorders

  • Socioeconomic Factors:

    • Poverty limits access to nutritious food.
    • Food insecurity arises from financial instability and social conditions.

  • Lifestyle Factors:

    • Poor diets and lack of physical activity contribute to disorders.
    • Substance abuse disrupts nutrient absorption.

  • Medical Conditions:

    • Conditions like celiac disease interfere with nutrient absorption.

  • Age Factors:

    • Infants, children, pregnant women, and older adults have increased nutritional needs and risks for malnutrition.

  • Genetic Factors:

    • Genetic predispositions can lead to certain nutritional disorders (e.g., lactose intolerance).

  • Environmental Factors:

    • Climate change and natural disasters disrupt food supply and safety.

Population at Risk of Nutritional Disorders

  • Infants, Children, and Adolescents:

    • Require higher essential nutrients; deficiencies can lead to growth issues.

  • Women:

    • Increased nutrient demands during childbearing and lactation.

  • Elderly Adults:

    • Increased risk of malnutrition due to physiological changes.

  • Low-Income Families:

    • Financial constraints lead to reliance on nutrient-poor foods.

  • Victims of Disasters:

    • Food insecurity due to natural or man-made disasters.

  • Homeless:

    • Irregular meals and reliance on emergency food increase malnutrition risk.