What is nutritional disorders | Class 11 biology online notes

 What is nutritional disorders | Class 11 biology online notes 

Class 11 biology : Nutritional disorders or diseases are the physiological conditions that occur due to the lack of intake of the particular nutrients required by our body. We will discuss some of the deficiency diseases or nutritional disorders.

Protein Deficiency Diseases

Although severe protein deficiency is rare in the developed world, it is a leading cause of death in children in many poor, underdeveloped countries. There are two main syndromes associated with protein deficiencies: Kwashiorkor and Marasmus. Kwashiorkor affects millions of children worldwide. The syndrome was named because it occurred most commonly in children who had recently been weaned from the breast, usually because another child had just been born. Kwashiorkor is characterized by swelling (edema) of the feet and abdomen, poor skin health, growth retardation, low muscle mass and liver malfunction. Diets extremely low in protein do not provide enough amino acids for the synthesis of albumin. One of the functions of albumin is to hold water in the blood vessels, so having lower concentrations of blood albumin results in water moving out of the blood vessels and into tissues, causing swelling. The primary symptoms of Kwashiorkor include not only swelling, but also diarrhea, fatigue, peeling skin, and irritability. Severe protein deficiency in addition to other micronutrient deficiencies, such as folate (vitamin B9), iodine, iron, and vitamin C all contribute to the many health manifestations of this syndrome.

Children and adults with marasmus neither have enough protein in their diets nor do they take in enough calories. Marasmus affects mostly children below the age of one in poor countries. Body weights of children with Marasmus may be up to 80 percent less than that of a normal child of the same age. Marasmus is a Greek word, meaning “starvation.” The syndrome affects more than fifty million children under age five worldwide. It is characterized by an extreme emaciated appearance, poor skin health, and growth retardation. The symptoms are acute fatigue, hunger, and diarrhea.

Kwashiorkor and marasmus often coexist as a combined syndrome termed marasmic kwashiorkor. Children with the combined syndrome have variable amounts of edema and the characterizations and symptoms of marasmus. Although organ system function is compromised by under nutrition, the ultimate cause of death is usually an infection. Under nutrition is intricately linked with suppression of the immune system at multiple levels, so undernourished children commonly die from severe diarrhoea and/or pneumonia resulting from bacterial or viral infection.

Continue .....  What is nutritional disorders

For more information, videos lectures, study material, CBSE sample papers, Biology notes for Class 11, register with Takshila Learning.

Call us : 8800999280/8800999284