Malnutrition Defined

Text extracted from

The World Food Problem
Leathers & Foster, 2004

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 Malnutrition
Overnutrition
Undernutrition
Secondary
Malnutrition
Micronutrient
Malnutrition
Protein Energy
Malnutrition
Most important

Protein Energy
Malnutrition
Undernutrition
 Secondary Malnutrition
Diet normal
Food not digested or
absorbed
Diarrhea
Parasites

Tapeworm
 Micronutrient Malnutrition
Deficiency in:
Vitamin A
Iodine
Iron
Zinc
Calcium
Vitamin D
B Vitamins
Vitamin C
Rickets (Vitamin D deficiency)
Vitamin A Deficiency
500,000 children
become blind each year
xerophthalmia
Half of these will die
within a year of
becoming blind
Rice diet lacking green
vegetables
Vitamin supplements
help: cost $3/year
Golden Rice could help
 Iodine Deficiency
Iodine deficiency
affects 740 million people worldwide
single greatest cause of preventable
brain damage in babies
Goiter
Stillbirth
Miscarriages
Mental Retardation
Prevented by iodized salt
Best sources of natural iodine
Sea weed
Sea food
Goiter (thyroid enlargement)
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Affects 2 billion people,
90% live in developing
countries
39% of preschool children
52% of pregnant women
Reduced
physical activity
mental activity
Increased
birth mortality
Worms
Malaria
HIV
High iron rice could help
 Iron, Vitamin A & Iodine Deficiency

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Other Deficiencies
Zinc
Growth retardation
delayed sexual
maturation
skin and eye lesions
48% of world at risk for
zinc deficiency
Calcium
Osteoporosis: bone loss
Vitamin D
Rickets: bone
malformation
Other Deficiencies
Vitamin C
Causes Scurvy: problem in refugee
camps
Niacin
Causes Pellagra: dermatitis, diarrhea,
dementia
Due to diet high in maize (low in
tryptophan)
Thiamin
Causes Beriberi
Due to diet high in polished rice
Folate
Birth defects: Anancephaly and Spina
Bifida
 Protein Energy Malnutrition
(PEM)
Underconsumption of
calories or protein
Most important form of
malnutrition
Associated with poverty
Not enough food
Poor quality food
Kwashiorkor
Extreme protein deficiency

Kwashiorkor
Marasmus
Extreme calorie deficiency
Kwashiorkor
Protein deficiency often
associated with weaning onto
thin cereal gruels.
Cassava
Plantains
Bloating of the stomach due to
edema
Fluid leaking into body
Wasted muscles
Antibodies degraded to provide
protein to body
Infection
Dysentery
Death
Marasmus

Calorie deficiency
Lack of food
Poorest populations
Neglected
Infants
children
Protein used for energy
Results in wasting
Deterioration of tissues
Brain development
impaired
Balanced Protein
Protein are made of amino
acids
Essential amino acids
Body cannot make
Required in diet
Animal proteins have
perfect balance of amino
acids
Meat
Milk
Eggs
 Complementing Proteins
Plant proteins are deficient
in different essential
amino acids
Cereals
Low in lysine
Beans
Low in methionine
Must eat both cereal and
beans together to get
balanced amino acids
Complementing proteins
Rice and Beans
Calorie Deficiency
Most widespread problem
among poor
Cannot get enough calories
(energy) in diet
Most get enough protein
Calorie requirements vary
Age
Sex
Pregnancy
Lactation
 Nutritional Needs
RDA
Recommended Daily
Allowance
Level of nutrients adequate for 97-
98% of the group
Good target for individuals
EAR
Estimated Average
Requirement
Level of nutrients adequate for
individuals in group
Always lower than RDA
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Good target for average intake of
a group