Diseases resulting from nutrient deficiencies or excesses
From WikiLectures
Malnutrition is defined as a nutritional disorder due to absolute or relative nutrient deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances. Malnutrition can be classified in several ways:
- Malnutrition resulting from undernourishment: nutrient deficiencies
- Malnutrition resulting from overnutrition: nutrient excesses
- General malnutrition: arises from a lack or excess of energy in the diet (protein energy malnutrition, obesity).
- Specific malnutrition: arises from a deficiency or excess of individual nutrients.
- Primary (exogenous) malnutrition: insufficient or excessive nutrient intake. Primary malnutrition affects millions of people worldwide.
- Secondary (endogenous) malnutrition results from nutrient absorption disorders, nutrient utilization disorders (enzyme defects), and the use of certain drugs that can alter nutrient metabolism. Secondary malnutrition is infrequent compared to some primary malnutrition. Environmental factors (xenobiotics, smoking) may also contribute to malnutrition.
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