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In medicine, a deficiency is a lack or shortage of a functional entity, by less than normal or necessary supply or function. A person can have chromosomal deficiencies, mental deficiencies, nutritional deficiencies, complement deficiencies, or enzyme deficiencies.
Vitamins and minerals are essential to the proper functioning and maintenance of the human body. [114] There are 20 trace elements and minerals that are essential in small quantities to body function and overall human health. [114] Iron deficiency is the most common inadequate nutrient worldwide, affecting approximately 2 billion people. [115]
Vitamin deficiency is the condition of a long-term lack of a vitamin. When caused by not enough vitamin intake it is classified as a primary deficiency, whereas when due to an underlying disorder such as malabsorption it is called a secondary deficiency. An underlying disorder can have 2 main causes:
Deficiencies of this macronutrient can cause health problems, including stunted growth, loss of muscle, decreased immunity, and weakening of the heart. Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by ...
Well-researched human vitamin deficiencies involve thiamine (beriberi), niacin , [32] vitamin C (scurvy), folate (neural tube defects) and vitamin D (rickets). [8] In much of the developed world these deficiencies are rare due to an adequate supply of food and the addition of vitamins to common foods. [20]
Copper deficiency, or hypocupremia, is defined as insufficient copper to meet the body's needs, or as a serum copper level below the normal range. [1] Symptoms may include fatigue , decreased red blood cells , early greying of the hair, and neurological problems presenting as numbness , tingling, muscle weakness, and ataxia . [ 2 ]
Malnutrition occurs when an organism gets too few or too many nutrients, resulting in health problems. [11] [12] Specifically, it is a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients which adversely affects the body's tissues and form. [13] Malnutrition is a category of diseases that includes undernutrition and ...
Iron deficiency, or sideropenia, is the state in which a body lacks enough iron to supply its needs. Iron is present in all cells in the human body and has several vital functions, such as carrying oxygen to the tissues from the lungs as a key component of the hemoglobin protein, acting as a transport medium for electrons within the cells in the form of cytochromes, and facilitating oxygen ...