Nutritional Deficiencies are the condition of a long-term lack of vitamins and minerals. A primary deficiency is caused by insufficient nutrient intake, whereas a secondary deficiency is caused by an underlying disorder such as malabsorption. An underlying disorder could be metabolic or caused by lifestyle choices that increase vitamin requirements. Governments recommend specified dietary intakes for healthy adults, with different levels for women, men, babies, the elderly, and during pregnancy or breastfeeding. To prevent common nutritional deficiencies, many governments have mandated food fortification programs.
Food and nutrition are critical in promoting health and preventing chronic disease. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are published every five years by the US Departments of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist health professionals in guiding Americans to make healthy food and beverage choices. Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) are a set of reference values used to plan and evaluate healthy people’s diets. They include both recommended intakes and upper limit (ULs) as reference values.
- Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): the average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient needs of nearly all (97 to 98 percent) healthy individuals in a group.
- Adequate Intake (AI): When an RDA cannot be determined, a value based on observed or experimentally determined estimates of nutrient intake by a group of healthy adults are employed.
- Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL): the highest level of daily nutrient intake that is unlikely to cause adverse health effects in almost all individuals.
- Estimated Average Requirement (EAR): a nutrient intake value that is estimated to meet the needs of half of the healthy people in a group.
If you are not absorbing enough vitamins or minerals, you may be deficient in fat-soluble vitamins, water-soluble vitamins, or minerals such as selenium, zinc, copper, and iron. Your doctor may suspect vitamin or mineral deficiency based on your symptoms. To be sure, he or she will order a blood test. Your treatment will be determined by your vitamin and mineral deficiency. Vitamin supplements, as well as intramuscular injections and nasal inhalations, are frequently suggested. Because some patients are unable to absorb vitamins through the mouth, they will be given Intravenous therapy.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is the best way to avoid nutritional deficiencies. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, dairy products, and sources of protein, such as meat, fish, and eggs, are all important to include in your diet. More information about the types of foods you should include in your diet and how to achieve the correct balance between them may be found in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. If you have a health problem that puts you at risk for nutritional deficiencies or malnutrition, talk to your doctor. You might need to take supplements or have more specific dietary needs.