NUTRITIONAL DISEASES

People may become sick by consuming too much (toxicosis) or too little (deficiency) of a particular nutrient.

Any substance can cause toxicosis if consumed in sufficient quantities. However, most nutrients need to be consumed in enormous quantities to cause toxic effects. Some cases of toxicosis may result from metabolic disorders (eg. Haemachromatosis is caused by a body’s tendency to accumulate iron).

A lack of macronutrients (eg. protein, carbohydrate, lipid) may result in malnutrition, where the body lacks the basic chemicals needed for maintenance and repair.

Deficiency diseases tend to involve micronutrients - substances which are needed in small quantities (eg. vitamins and minerals). Deficiency disease may occur because insufficient nutrients are taken in, or if too much of the nutrient is lost from the body (eg. iron deficiency in heavy blood loss)

    eg.    Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) results in breakdown of connective tissue - sores, ulcers, loose teeth

        Iron deficiency - lower ability to transport oxygen around the blood - causes fatigue, shortness of breath

        Vitamin D deficiency (rickets) - involved in deposition of calcium in the bones - results in bowed legs and other long bones

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