Malnutrition

Food guide pyramid — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s newest food pyramid guide, called MyPyramid, encourages consumers to make healthier food choices and to get regular exercise. Unlike the older model, food groups are arranged in vertically bands, instead of horizontal ones. Band width indicates portion size. The wider the band, the more food from that group you should eat.

Also known as: Nutrition - inadequate

Definition

Malnutrition is the condition that occurs when your body does not get enough nutrients.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

There are a number of causes of malnutrition. It may result from:

Inadequate or unbalanced diet
Problems with digestion or absorption
Certain medical conditions

Malnutrition can occur if you do not eat enough food. Starvation is a form of malnutrition.

You may develop malnutrition if you lack of a single vitamin in the diet.

In some cases, malnutrition is very mild and causes no symptoms. However, sometimes it can be so severe that the damage done to the body is permanent, even though you survive.

Malnutrition continues to be a significant problem all over the world, especially among children. Poverty, natural disasters, political problems, and war all contribute to conditions -- even epidemics -- of malnutrition and starvation, and not just in developing countries.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary and depend on what is causing the malnutrition. However, some general symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, and weight loss.

Signs and tests

Testing depends on the specific disorder. Most work-ups include nutritional assessments and blood work.

Treatment

Treatment usually consists of replacing missing nutrients, treating symptoms as needed, and treating any underlying medical condition.

Expectations (prognosis)

The outlook depends on the cause of the malnutrition. Most nutritional deficiencies can be corrected. However, if malnutrition is caused by a medical condition, that illness has to be treated in order to reverse the nutritional deficiency.

Complications

If untreated, malnutrition can lead to mental or physical disability, illness, and possibly death.

Calling your health care provider

Discuss the risk of malnutrition with your health care provider. Treatment is necessary if you or your child have any changes in the body's ability to function. Contact your health care provider if the following symptoms develop:

Fainting
Lack of menstruation
Lack of growth in children
Rapid hair loss

Prevention

Eating a good, well-balanced diet helps to prevent most forms of malnutrition.

References

Baucher H. Failure to thrive. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 37.

Heird WC. Food insecurity, hunger, and undernutrition. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 43.

Klein S. Protein-energy malnutrition. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 234.

Disease

Malabsorption

Malabsorption is difficulty absorbing nutrients from food.
Symptoms

Appetite - increased

Increased appetite means you have an excess desire for food.
Nutrition

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin.
Disease

Bulimia

Bulimia is an illness in which a person binges on food or has regular episodes of significant overeating and feels a loss of control. The affected person then uses various methods — such as vomiting or laxative abuse — to prevent weight gain. Many (but not all) people with bulimia also ...
Nutrition

Folic acid in diet

Folic acid is a type of B vitamin. It is the man-made (synthetic) form of folate that is found in supplements and added to fortified foods. Folic acid is water-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. Leftover amounts of the vitamin leave the body through the urine. That means your body ...
Disease

Beriberi

Beriberi is a disease in which the body does not have enough (vitamin B1).
Disease

Kwashiorkor

Kwashiorkor is a form of that occurs when there is not enough in the diet.
Nutrition

Thiamin

Thiamin is one of the B vitamins, a group of water-soluble vitamins that are part of many of the chemical reactions in the body.
Nutrition

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.
Disease

Scurvy

Scurvy is a disease that occurs when you have a severe lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in your diet. It causes general weakness, , gum disease, and . Scurvy is rare in the United States. It is most frequently seen in older, malnourished adults.
Nutrition

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. The body cannot store them. Leftover amounts of the vitamin leave the body through the urine. That means you need a continuous supply of such vitamins in your diet.
Symptoms

Binge eating

Binge eating is when a person eats a much larger amount of food in a shorter period of time than he or she normally would. During binge eating, the person also feels a loss of control.
Disease

Rickets

Rickets is a disorder caused by a lack of vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate. It leads to softening and weakening of the bones.
Special Topic

Food guide pyramid

The food guide pyramid is designed to help people make healthy food choices.
Disease

Megaloblastic anemia

Megaloblastic anemia is a blood disorder in which there is with larger-than-normal red blood cells. Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues.
Nutrition

Riboflavin

Riboflavin is a type of B vitamin. It is water soluble, which means it is not stored in the body. You must replenish the vitamin every day.
Nutrition

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin.
Disease

Pellagra

Pellagra is a disease that occurs when a person does not get enough (one of the B complex vitamins) or (an amino acid).
Disease

Myelomeningocele

Myelomeningocele is a birth defect in which the backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth. The condition is a type of spina bifida.

Review date:: May 12, 2009
Reviewed by:: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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