Category: Nutritional disorders

According to medical experts, a deficiency of folic acid leads to a specific blood disorder, known as megaloblastic anemia. This condition is defined by the production of unusually large, immature red blood cells, which significantly disrupts the body's ability to transport oxygen effectively.

Megaloblastic anemia, a type of vitamin deficiency anemia, is most commonly caused by a lack of vitamin B12 or folate. It is a condition where the body produces abnormally large, immature red blood cells that cannot function properly. Effective treatment is critical to manage symptoms and prevent long-term complications, particularly neurological damage.

Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune disorder that impacts approximately 0.1% of the general population, with a higher prevalence in those over 60, by disrupting the body's ability to absorb dietary vitamin B12.

According to studies on hospitalized patients, hypophosphatemia—or low phosphate levels—affects a significant percentage, with decreased intestinal absorption being a major contributing factor. Understanding the root causes of poor phosphate absorption is crucial for effective diagnosis and management, as it can lead to serious health complications.

According to a 2020 study, the weighted prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in the United States was over 40.9%, highlighting the widespread nature of low vitamin levels. When diagnosed, the term vitamin D deficiency unspecified indicates that while low levels are confirmed, the specific underlying cause has not yet been determined or documented.

It's a documented fact that up to one-third of young children engage in pica, the consumption of non-food items, although it's often a temporary developmental phase. However, persistent cravings for soil in older children or adults is medically referred to as geophagia, a form of the eating disorder pica, and may signal deeper issues.

According to a meta-analysis covering decades of research, pica, the compulsive eating of non-food substances, has been reported in as many as 50% of people with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). This strong link suggests that a severe nutritional imbalance is frequently what deficiency causes mud craving, a specific form of pica known as geophagia.

Affecting up to 60% of intensive care unit patients, hypomagnesemia is a common clinical finding, but it is often much more complex than simply not eating enough magnesium. While inadequate dietary intake can be a cause, numerous underlying medical conditions, genetic factors, and medications are also responsible for this mineral imbalance.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition—in all its forms—is a significant contributor to disease and disability worldwide. Diagnosis code E64 serves to classify and track the lasting health conditions, known as sequelae, that arise as a result of past episodes of nutritional deficiencies.

Hypoglycemia is a critical medical complication that significantly increases mortality in severely malnourished children. This serious condition arises when the body's energy reserves are completely exhausted, leaving it unable to maintain safe blood glucose levels.