Tag: Nutritional disease

Pellagra, from the Italian for 'rough skin', is a nutritional disease that historically plagued populations with limited diets. It is defined as a systemic illness resulting from a severe deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3) or its precursor, tryptophan. While once epidemic, especially in the American South, the disease is now rare in developed countries but persists in regions with food insecurity.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's intake of energy and/or nutrients. A lack of any class of food, leading to a deficiency of nutrients, is commonly called undernutrition, a major form of malnutrition. This can have severe consequences, impacting health, development, and overall well-being.

According to one study, late-stage scurvy is life-threatening and can result in severe complications like generalized edema, convulsions, and even death. Recognizing the progression from early-stage indicators to the dangerous symptoms of severe scurvy is crucial for a positive outcome.

Historically, vitamin deficiency diseases plagued sailors and soldiers on long voyages, but they still occur today in various at-risk populations. Scurvy, an ancient disease first described around 1550 BC, is a prime example of a condition caused by the inadequate intake of a specific vitamin, specifically vitamin C. While often considered a relic of the past, modern cases still surface in malnourished individuals worldwide.

Historically, untreated pellagra resulted in a significant mortality rate over several years, highlighting the critical importance of understanding its progressive stages. This systemic disease, caused by a severe deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3), affects the entire body and follows a predictable, escalating course if not addressed.

Historically, pellagra was once a devastating epidemic, particularly in parts of the American South in the early 1900s, affecting millions. This serious nutritional disease is primarily caused by a specific and severe deficiency, but what deficiency results in pellagra? The answer lies in the essential nutrient niacin, also known as vitamin B3.

Worldwide, approximately 45 million children under the age of five are affected by wasting, one of the two forms of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). This complex nutritional deficiency manifests in distinct ways, with a key differentiator being the presence or absence of edema.

Worldwide, vitamin D deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency among adults and children, and it is the primary driver of osteomalacia due to malnutrition in adults. This metabolic bone disorder is characterized by a failure of proper bone mineralization, leading to soft and weakened bones.

Over 34 million Americans were diagnosed with diabetes in 2018, a common metabolic disorder that affects the body's ability to process blood glucose. The medical term for a broad range of illnesses arising from problems with the body's chemical processes is metabolic disorder, an issue that can be triggered by either defective genetics or poor nutritional intake.

According to the World Health Organization, every country in the world is affected by one or more forms of malnutrition, which is the underlying condition for a nutrition disease. This term encompasses a wide range of conditions caused by a person's nutrient intake being either inadequate or excessive.