deficiency disease

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n.

A disease, such as rickets or scurvy, that is caused by a dietary deficiency of specific nutrients, especially a vitamin or mineral. The disease may stem from insufficient intake, digestion, absorption, or utilization of a nutrient.

Disease associated with characteristic and identifiable symptoms, signs, or pathological findings, due to insufficient intake, defective absorption or utilization, or excessive metabolism of one or more nutrients. See also anaemia; beriberi; pellagra; protein-energy malnutrition; scurvy.

n

A disturbance produced by lack of nutritional or metabolic factors. Used chiefly in reference to avitaminosis.

A disease brought about because some vital element is missing in the diet. The food lack is generally of protein, vitamins, or minerals. Common conditions are:

LACK OF:	DEFICIENCY DISEASE
vitamin B	kwashiorkor
vitamin C	scurvy
vitamin D	rickets
iron	anaemia

It is claimed that over half the population of the world suffers or has suffered from malnutrition, leaving them debilitated.

A disease caused by lack of an essential nutrient. See also vitamin deficiency disease.