Nutritional Diseases

A detailed Summary of Nutritional Diseases

Relatively rare in the United States, Beriberi is a disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1 , also known as thiamine, in the diet. The disease involves peripheral neuritis - nerve degeneration - and myopathy - muscle disease, particularly affecting heart muscles. Symptoms include diarrhea, loss of weight, fatigue, and heart failure. Beriberi is prevalent in eastern and southern Asia. Because many alcoholics fail to eat a balanced diet, it is sometimes associated with chronic alcoholism.

There is dry Beriberi and wet Beriberi. Dry beriberi results in the loss of strength and of some feeling in the limbs due to nerve degeneration. Wet beriberi is caused by accumulated fluid in the limbs (edema) and in the abdomen (ascites) because of a heart malfunction; nerve degeneration is commonly present as well.

Beriberi is treated with vitamin B1, and this cures most cases of the disease. Care should be taken to provide the patient with a balanced diet.

Rickets is a vitamin-deficiency disease that in children can lead to permanent bone deformities. Softening of the bones, which is termed osteomalacia, is a symptom of rickets as well as of some other disorders. Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D in the body. This vitamin is necessary for calcium utilization for growing bones. Calcium is important for many cellular processes, and if calcium is in short supply, the body borrows it from the skeleton. Vitamin D, also known as calciferol, is needed for the process of paying back the loan. The liver and kidneys manufacture vitamin D from chemicals produced when the skin is exposed to the sun.

This can occur because of deficiencies in the diet. Single vitamin deficiencies are a form of malnutrition just as 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. Eating a good, well-balanced diet helps to prevent most forms of malnut

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Approximate Word count = 684
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Science

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