Malnutrition
Key points
- Malnutrition means a person's body is not getting enough nutrients.
- Malnutrition can occur because of the lack of a single vitamin in the diet, or it can be because the person isn't getting enough food.
- Most work-ups include nutritional assessments and blood work.
- Treatment usually consists of replacing missing nutrients, treating symptoms as needed, and treating any underlying medical condition.
Alternative names
Nutrition - inadequate
Definition
Malnutrition means a person's body is not getting enough nutrients. The condition may result from an inadequate or unbalanced diet, digestive difficulties, absorption problems, or other medical conditions.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Malnutrition can occur because of the lack of a single vitamin in the diet, or it can be because the person isn't getting enough food. Starvation is a form of malnutrition. Malnutrition can also occur when nutrients ARE adequately consumed in the diet, but one or more nutrients are not digested or absorbed properly.
Malnutrition may be mild enough to show no symptoms or so severe that the damage it has done is irreversible even though the individual may be kept alive.
Worldwide, malnutrition continues to be a significant problem, especially among children who cannot fend adequately for themselves. Poverty, natural disasters, political problems and war in countries such as Biafra, Somalia, Rwanda, Iraq, and many others have demonstrated that hunger and malnutrition are not strangers to this world.
Related topics:
- deficiency - Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- deficiency - Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- deficiency - Vitamin B9 (folacin)
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.