Deficiency Diseases

Deficiency Diseases Definition

“Deficiency diseases are diseases that are caused by the lack of certain essential nutrients, especially vitamins and minerals, in one’s diet over a prolonged period of time.”

Table of Contents

• Explanation
• List
• Vitamin Deficiency
• Mineral Deficiency
• Prevention

A balanced diet is extremely important for the good health of a person. Any imbalance in the diet might lead to excess or insufficient intake of certain nutrients. Insufficient intake of a particular nutrient can lead to a deficiency disease.

Let us have a detailed look at different types of deficiency diseases and the methods of prevention of deficiency diseases.

Also Read: Components of Food

Following is a list of major deficiency diseases that occur due to lack of essential minerals and vitamins:

Vitamin is a micronutrient that is not prepared by the body in sufficient amounts. This is the reason why it is necessary to take in from outside sources for the normal functioning of the body. Inadequate intake of vitamins results in vitamin deficiency diseases.

Following is the list of some of the vitamins and the deficiency diseases caused by them:

Vitamin A

It is an important micronutrient that is obtained from different food sources such as carrots, spinach, milk, egg, liver and fish. It is required for normal vision, reproduction, growth and healthy immune system of an individual.

Most children below five years of age suffer from xerophthalmia, a serious eye disorder, in which the child is at risk of becoming blind. Vitamin A deficiency in a pregnant woman can lead to complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Vitamin B

Vitamin B can be of different types, such as Vitamin B1, B2, B12 etc. The deficiency diseases depend on the type of Vitamin B that a person is lacking.

Vitamin B1: Deficiency of vitamin B1 causes beriberi, which results in weak muscles and severe weight loss. Acute deficiency can lead to paralysis and cardiac failure.

Vitamin B6: Lack of vitamin B6 causes deficiency diseases such as anaemia and certain skin disorders such as cracks around the mouth. It can also lead to depression and nervous breakdowns.

Vitamin B12: Lack of vitamin B12 causes pernicious anaemia. Other diseases related to B12 deficiency are muscle and nerve paralysis, extreme fatigue, dementia and depression.

Vitamin C

Deficiency of vitamin C can cause scurvy, a disease that is characterised by bleeding gums, skin spots and swelling in joints. It also affects the immune system and can even be fatal in acute conditions.

Also Read: Scurvy

Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency causes rickets, which leads to the weakening of bones, especially near the joints. It can also lead to the decay of teeth.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is important for blood coagulation. Its deficiency is common in infants and leads to excessive bleeding due to the inability to form blood clots.

Also Read: Food Deficiency

Minerals are inorganic nutrients that include trace elements such as copper, zinc, iodine, and iron, along with the micronutrients such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium.

Following is the list of a few minerals along with the deficiency diseases associated with them:

Iodine

Iodine is the most important element required for the brain development of the developing foetus. It is responsible for a number of other functions such as the production of hormones. Salt is an important source of iodine in many countries. The deficiency of iodine leads to goitre.

Iron

Iron, in the form of haemoglobin, carries oxygen from the lungs to different tissues of the body. Iron deficiency causes anaemia, a condition in which the blood is unable to carry the required oxygen to the tissues, which also results in death. Around 40-60% of infants in developing countries suffer from mental impairment due to iron deficiency. Red meat, spinach, poultry, etc. are some of the iron-rich foods.

The deficiency diseases can be prevented in the following manner:

• Eating simple, wholesome food such as groundnut, soybean, pulses, etc.
• Prolonged cooking and undercooked food lose their nutritional value. Keeping cut vegetables and fruits for a longer period also destroys their nutritional value. Avoiding this can prevent deficiency diseases.
• Fermentation and sprouting retain and increase the nutritional value of food.

Also Read: Vitamins and Minerals

For more information on deficiency diseases and prevention of deficiency diseases, keep visiting BYJU’S website or download BYJU’S app for further reference.