Deficiency Diseases and Malnutrition – GK

As per The World Bank’s estimates, India has one of the highest number of children in the world suffering from malnutrition. Moreover, the 2015 Global Hunger Index Report ranked India 20th amongst leading countries with a serious hunger situation. These facts hint dire consequences for mortality rate, productivity and economic growth. India, being the country with the world’s largest young demographic, cannot afford to continue to let the evils of stunting, wasting, etc. lurk over its future. Therefore, nutritional deficiency diseases have obtained an important place in various government competitive exams. This list of nutrients, their sources, constituents and deficiency diseases will help you prepare for the same.

Deficiency diseases and Sources of Nutrients:

Nutrient	Constituent	Deficiency Diseases	Sources
Vitamin A	Retinol,  Retinoic  Acid,  Beta-Carotene	Night-blindness	Carrots, Papaya, Milk, Cheese, Fish Liver Oil, Green Vegetables etc.
Vitamin B1	Thiamine	Beriberi	Brewer’s Yeast, Whole Grain, Oatmeal, Legumes, Peanuts, Dried Soybean, Sunflower Seeds etc.
Vitamin B2	Riboflavin	Ariboflavinosis	Beef Liver, Lamb, Milk, Mushroom, Spinach, Almonds etc.
Vitamin B3	Niacin or Nicotinic Acid	Pellagra	Tuna, Chicken, Turkey, Mushrooms , Bacon, Broccoli, Veal etc.
Vitamin B5	Pantothenic Acid	Acne, Paresthesia	Chicken Liver, Sunflower Seeds, Salmon, Avocados, Corn, Broccoli, Mushroom etc.
Vitamin B6	Pyridoxine, Pyridoxal, Pyridoxamine	Dandruff-like eruptions, Pink eye, Epilepsy	Fish, Beef Liver, Potatoes & other starchy vegetables, Fruit (other than citrus) etc.
Vitamin B7	Biotin	Growth & Neurological Disorders in Infants	Raw Egg Yolk, Liver, Peanuts, Yeast, Whole-wheat Bread, Cheddar Cheese, Pork etc.
Vitamin B9	Folic Acid	Macrocytic Anaemia, Birth Defects	Dark Leafy Greens like Spinach, Asparagus, Broccoli, Citrus Fruits, Beans, Peas, Lentils, Avocados etc.
Vitamin B12	Various Cobalamins	Macrocytic Anaemia, Memory Loss, Pernicious Anaemia, Mania, Psychosis, Paralysis	Seafood, Beef, Chicken, Eggs etc.
Vitamin C	L-Ascorbic Acid	Scurvy	Amla, Guava, Chillis, Kiwi, Broccoli, Orange, Papaya, Lemon, etc.
Vitamin D	Calciferol (D2) & Cholecalciferol (D3)	Rickets, Osteomalacia	Sunlight, Mushrooms, Alfalfa, Fish Liver Oils, Cooked Egg Yolk, etc.
Vitamin E	Tochopherols & Tocotrienols	Red Blood Cell Destruction, Ataxia, Retinopathy, Peripheral Neuropathy, Reproductive Failure	Wheat Germ Oil, Canola Oil, Sunflower Oil, Almond Oil, Hazelnuts, Peanuts etc.
Essential Fatty Acids	Omega 3 (Alpha Linolenic Acid) and Omega 6 (Linolenic Acid)	Several bodily processes afflicted, Skin Ailments	Fish Oils, Flaxseed Oil, Hemp Oil, Olive Oil, Pumpkin Seeds, Leafy Vegetables etc.
Vitamin K	Phylloquinone (K1), Menaquinone (K2)	Lack of Clotting of Blood, Lack of Tissue Renewal	Green Leafy Vegetables etc.
Iron		Anaemia, Arrhythmia	Red Meat, Seafood, Egg Yolk, Bananas, Apple, Green Vegetables, Broccoli, Beans, Pumpkin Seeds etc.
Potassium		High Blood Pressure, Arrhythmia, Muscle Weakness, Myalgia, Muscle Cramps, Constipation, Respiratory Depression, Paralysis	Meat, Milk, Fruits, Vegetables, Whole Grains etc.
Calcium		Osteoporosis, Hypocalcemia, Ostopenia	Milk and Milk Products, Eggs, Wheatgrass etc.
Magnesium		Deterioration of Metabolism & Cellular Functioning, Heart Attacks, Insulin Resistance	Nuts and Seeds, Green Vegetables, Dark Chocolate, Whole Grains etc.
Sodium		Cognitive Impairment, Headaches, Nausea, Seizure, Coma, Electrolytic Imbalance	Salt, Fish, Meat, Vegetables etc.
Chlorine			Salt, Milk, Meats, Vegetables etc.
Phosphorous			Meat, Fish, Poultry, Eggs, Milk, Bananas etc.
Iodine		Goitre, Cretinism, Deterioration of Metabolism & Cellular Functioning,	Iodised Salt, Sea Food, Green Vegetables, Raw Milk, Eggs etc.
Protein	Kwashiorkor		Meat, Seafood, Eggs, Pulses & Legumes, Milk & Milk Products etc.
Protein-Energy	Marasmus		Grains, Pulses & Legumes, Meat, Milk & Milk Products, Eggs, Seafood etc.

We hope you find this post on deficiency diseases and malnutrition helpful. Go through some more of our similar posts to enhance your general awareness