What are the causes of nutritional deficiencies?

Deficiencies in micronutrients such as vitamin A reduce the body's ability to fight disease. Widespread prevalence of deficiencies in iron, iodine, and vitamin A represents a serious challenge to public health. A long list of painful symptoms, ranging from stunted growth, reduced intelligence and various cognitive abilities, reduced communication skills, reduced leadership and decisiveness, reduced vitality and energy, reduced muscle growth and strength, and worse health, are all directly related to nutritional deficiencies. And, although rare, malnutrition can cause dark spots on the skin.

The following diseases can also cause nutritional deficiencies:

1. Nutritional deficiency neuropathy

Dystrophic polyneuropathy is a common type of polyneuropathy caused by nutritional deficiency or metabolic disorder and is characterized by symmetrical sensory impairment in the distal limbs, lower motor neuron paralysis and/or autonomic nerve disorders.

2. Folic acid deficiency neuropathy

Folic acid deficiency refers to a clinical syndrome characterized by megaloblastic anemia caused by insufficient intake or malabsorption of folic acid. Folic acid is a fat-soluble vitamin that is abundant in vegetables, yeast, liver, kidney, milk and meat, but is easily destroyed after cooking. Folic acid is an anti-anemia factor. Human deficiency can cause pernicious anemia-like phenomena. When folic acid is deficient, DNA synthesis is impaired, causing lesions in the rapidly dividing hematopoietic system and gastric mucosa, and may be complicated by nervous system damage.

3. Niacin deficiency neuropathy

Niacin usually refers to nicotinic acid (nicotinic acid), nicotinamide (nicotinamide) and other biologically active pyridine derivatives. Niacin deficiency is also known as niacin deficiency, also known as pellagra (scaly skin disease) and Pellagra disease. In 1937, niacin deficiency was found to be the cause of this disease. The human body can synthesize endogenous niacin, but exogenous intake is necessary to avoid niacin deficiency. The occurrence of this disease is related to the intake, reduced absorption and metabolic disorders of niacin, nicotinamide and tryptophan. It is a chronic wasting disease with dermatitis, dementia and diarrhea as the main clinical symptoms.

4. Folic acid deficiency in children

Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin. As research on the relationship between folic acid and birth defects and cardiovascular diseases has gradually deepened, it has become an extremely important micronutrient. In clinical practice, neural tube defects and megaloblastic anemia caused by folic acid deficiency are still common in rural areas of Northwest, North China and Southwest my country, and prevention and treatment work needs to be strengthened.

5. Niacin deficiency in children

Nicotinic acid deficiency is also known as pellagra, or pellagra (Italian translation, meaning rough skin). It is a disease caused by the lack of niacin (commonly known as vitamin PP) or niacinamide in the body, with skin rash, digestive system and nervous system as the main manifestations. In ancient my country, it was called millet rashes. As early as the 18th century, there was a relatively detailed description of the clinical manifestations of the disease, but it was not until 1917 that it was confirmed that the disease was related to dietary factors. In 1937, niacin was used to treat human pellagra with obvious results. In 1945, it was discovered that tryptophan treatment also had the same effect. Nicotinic acid and niacinamide constitute the coenzyme system required for the cell respiration mechanism in the body. Nicotinic acid is a heat-resistant and alkali-resistant water-soluble vitamin, and is the most stable of all vitamins.