Malnutrition

Malnutrition is the condition that occurs when a person's body is not getting enough nutrients. The condition may result from an inadequate/ unbalanced diet, digestive difficulties, absorption problems, or other medical conditions.

Malnutrition can occur because of the lack of a single vitamin in the diet, or it can be because a person isn't getting enough food. Malnutrition also occurs when adequate nutrients are consumed in the diet, but one or more nutrients are not digested or absorbed properly.

Malnutrition may be mild enough to show no symptoms. However, in some cases it may be so severe that the damage done is irreversible, even though the individual survives.

Symptoms vary with the specific malnutrition-related disorder. However, some general symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, weight loss and decreased immune response.

Treatment usually consists of replacing missing nutrients, treating symptoms as needed, and treating any underlying medical condition.

The Prognosis depends on the cause of the malnutrition. Most nutritional deficiencies can be corrected. However, if malnutrition is caused by a medical condition, that illness has to be treated in order to reverse the nutritional deficiency.

Malnutrition is common among alcoholics because alcohol displaces protein, vitamin, and mineral-containing foods in the diet, and chronic alcohol consumption results in maldigestion and malabsorption of essential nutrients. In addition, alcohol exerts direct toxic effects on both the liver and gut, resulting in structural alterations in the intestine and the development of fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Liver injury is preceded by an adaptive phase characterized by accelerated metabolism of drugs (including ethanol), and hyperlipemia, secondary to hypertrophy and hyperactivity of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum.

Side effects include enhanced hepatotoxicity of CCI4 and possibly energy wastage. Alcoholics should not be led to beleive that correction or prevention of nutritional deficiency will prevent liver damage in the face of continued alcohol abuse.

Although alcoholic beverages contain calories, research suggests that under certain conditions these calories do not have as much value for the body as those derived from other nutrients. In addition, many alcoholics suffer from malnutrition, which can lead to liver damage and impaired liver function. Many drinkers take in less than the recommended daily amount of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins (A, C, and B, especially thiamine [B1]), and minerals (such as calcium and iron).