Diseases Due to Deficiency or Overintake of Nutrients

Both deficiency and overconsumption of nutrients can lead to various health issues.

• Vitamin deficiency: can cause diseases like rickets (Vitamin D deficiency), scurvy (Vitamin C), night blindness (Vitamin A deficiency), beriberi (Vitamin B deficiency)
• Mineral deficiency: iron deficiency causes anemia, osteoporosis is caused due to calcium deficiency, hypothyroidism is caused by iron deficiency and stunted growth is caused due to zinc deficiency.
• Conditions like kwashiorkor and marasmus are caused by severe protein and calorie deficiency mainly in children under the age of 5.

Overconsumption of the nutrients also causes various Diseases like

• Overconsumption of vitamins leads to hypervitaminosis, with symptoms like nausea, liver damage, and increased intracranial pressure.
• Excessive mineral intake causes hypertension, heart disease, hypercalcemia, and stones in the kidneys that lead to impaired kidney function.
• High intake of saturated, carbohydrates, and trans fats, leads to obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
• If proteins are consumed in high quantities it causes strain to the kidneys, especially in people with pre-existing kidney conditions.

Hence a balanced amount of macronutrients and micronutrients is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Less or overconsumption of these nutrients should be avoided.

Also Read:

• Nutrition in Living Organism
• What is Nutrient Cycling?
• Difference Between Micronutrients and Macronutrients

Nutrients are organic molecules that are necessary for all organisms to grow, make energy, develop, and reproduce. They are broadly classified into two; macronutrients and micronutrients. Nutrients that are needed in large quantities are called macronutrients and the nutrients needed in smaller quantities are micronutrients. Nutrients are the foundation of good nutrition, playing important roles in various bodily processes. Deficiency or excess nutrients can lead to a wide range of health issues.