Micronutrients and micronutrient deficiency
Micronutrients encompass vitamins and minerals. This essential nutrition components are vital for proper body function. They are required in small quantities and since they can not be synthesised by the body (except vitamin D) they must be supplied from the food. If the body doesn’t get enough supply of micronutrients a deficiency is bound to occur. Micronutrient deficiency is manifested through several symptoms. The symptoms include seriouse birth diffracts, impaired cognitive and physical development, reduced productivity, as well as physical damage to connective tissues. Severe deficiencies may contribute to maternal and infant death and childhood blindness.
| Diseases and abnormal conditions caused by malnutrition | |
| Minerals: | Vitamines: |
| Iron | Vitamin A |
| Iodine | Vitamin B9, foal |
| Zinc | Vitamin D |
Iron is important for fetal and child growth and brain development. Iron deficiency is the leading cause of anemia and anemia during pregnancy, which is a common phenomenon, is a cause of maternal and child death, and can lead to poor fetal and child growth, Iron deficiency limited productivity and physical work capacity.
Food Rich in Iron
Iodine is a mineral that is important for several body functions, including physical and cognitive development. Iodine deficiency is the most common form of preventable mental retardation of fetus and early infancy.
Food rich in Iodine
Zinc is a mineral that is required in almost all body functions. Zinc augments the immune system, leading to increased resistance to resist infection. Zinc is also important to the development of physical and mental development of a child..
Food rich in Zinc
Vitamin A promotes the immune system function and is important for eyesight development. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to child blindness and death from communicable diseases such as measles and diarrhoea.
Food rich in Vitamin A
Vitamin B9 Folate is acoolevtive name for the different forms of vitamin B9 folate. Folate is important for early (first 3 weeks of pregnancy) fatal development. The vital B9 used for supplementation and food fortification is known as folic acid. Folate deficiency can lead to serious birth defects of the brain, spinal cord, and skull.
Food rich in Vitamin B9 Folate
Vitamin D is essential for bone health, and muscle and nerve function. Vitamin D also helps the immune system. Uptake of vitamin D depends on receptors called zinc fingers that are dependent on Zinc and vitamin D metabolism and is closely integrated with the absorption and metabolism of calcium metabolism and regulated by thyroid hormones thus also intertwined with Idine metabolism.
Food rich in Vitamin D
Prevalence of possible mineral and vitamin deficiency can be monitored in laboratory systems through continuous assessment, monitoring, evaluation, and surveillance. Work without such information can be ineffective in the worst case damaging.
| Types of malnutrition | Caused by deficiency of | Diseases and abnormal conditions caused by malnutrition |
| Protein energy malnutrition | Protein | Kwashiorkor |
| Energy | Marasmus | |
| Micronutrient deficiency | Iodine | Goiter |
| Vitamin A | Bitot’s spots, Night blindness | |
| Iron deficiency | Anemia | |
| Thiamine (Vitamin B1) | Beriberi | |
| Niacin (Vitamin B3) | Pellagra | |
| Folic Acid (Vitamin B9) | Several birth defects | |
| Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) | Scurvy | |
| Vitamin D | Rickets, Muscle diseases, osteoporosis | |
| Vitamin E | Hemolytic anemia in premature infants and children | |
| Vitamin K | Abnormal blood clotting | |
| Calcium | Osteoporosis, Osteomalacia | |
| Zinc | Growth retardation | |
| Selenium | Keshan’s disease | |
| Overnutrition/food toxicology | Unbalanced diet over-energy and micronutrient deficiency, exposure to dietary toxicants | Cardiovascular disease. Cancer. Type II diabetes |