ABSTRACT
-Undernutrition: a condition originated by an insufficient intake of vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and/or proteins, or their defective absorption in the body; which produce a significant loss in the quality and quantity of the muscular and adipose tissues of the organism.
Many nutritional deficiencies can be prevented by keeping a balanced, healthy and appropriate diet, according to the age, gender and needs of each person.
These nutrient deficiency diseases include:
-Rickets: a condition produced by the lack of vitamin D, calcium or phosphorus in the body, where the bones turn softer and weaker than usual.
-Anemia: a disease characterized by a decline in the regular number of erythrocytes in blood, as well as a distortion in their shape, size and concentration of hemoglobin; mainly caused by the lack of Iron and Vitamin B12 in the organism, whose principal symptoms are fatigue, dizziness, paleness, weakness, and so forth.
-Goitre: an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland principally caused by a lack of Iodine. Other causes can include genetic mutations, injuries or infections in the gland. It can also be related to syndromes like hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
A wide variety of nutritional deficiencies in the human body’s tissues can lead to several kinds of diseases. These deficiencies can be generally caused by a shallow intake of essential nutrients in the individual’s usual diet (proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals) or by disorders in the assimilation of those substances.