Tag: Illness and nutrition

The human body typically produces certain organic nutrients in adequate amounts, but scientific literature, like that from the European Commission, notes that during disorders, rapid growth, or physiologically stressful conditions, their biosynthesis may be insufficient. These are prime examples of times when nutrients may become conditionally essential for health.

According to the National Institutes of Health, infections and inflammation can significantly impair nutrient absorption and increase metabolic demands, demonstrating how illness can severely affect nutrition status. A complex, bidirectional relationship exists where poor nutrition weakens the immune system, and a weakened immune system makes the body more vulnerable to further nutritional decline.