Editing Human nutrition (section)

== Malnutrition ==
{{Main|Malnutrition}}
The term malnutrition addresses 3 broad groups of conditions:
* Undernutrition, which includes wasting (low weight-for-height), stunting (low height-for-age) and underweight (low weight-for-age)
* Micronutrient-related malnutrition, which includes micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals) or micronutrient excess
* Overweight, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malnutrition | title=Malnutrition | website=www.who.int | access-date=2020-01-03 | archive-date=2022-07-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220716200708/https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malnutrition | url-status=live}}</ref>

In developed countries, the diseases of malnutrition are most often associated with nutritional imbalances or excessive consumption; there are more people in the world who are malnourished due to excessive consumption. According to the United Nations [[World Health Organization]], the greatest challenge in developing nations today is not starvation, but insufficient nutrition&nbsp;– the lack of nutrients necessary for the growth and maintenance of vital functions. The causes of malnutrition are directly linked to inadequate macronutrient consumption and disease, and are indirectly linked to factors like "household food security, maternal and child care, health services, and the environment".<ref name="Essential Nutrition Actions" />

=== Insufficient ===
The U.S. Food and Nutrition Board sets Estimated Average Requirements (EARs) and Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for vitamins and minerals. EARs and RDAs are part of [[Dietary Reference Intake]]s.<ref name="ods.od.nih.gov">[https://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/Dietary_Reference_Intakes.aspx] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702082029/https://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/Dietary_Reference_Intakes.aspx|date=2020-07-02}}
Nutrient recommendations: Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI).</ref> The DRI documents describe nutrient deficiency signs and symptoms.

=== Excessive ===
The U.S. Food and Nutrition Board sets Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (known as ULs) for vitamins and minerals when evidence is sufficient. ULs are set a safe fraction below amounts shown to cause health problems. ULs are part of [[Dietary Reference Intake]]s.<ref name="ods.od.nih.gov" /> The [[European Food Safety Authority]] also reviews the same safety questions and set its own ULs.<ref>{{cite report | author=[[Scientific Committee on Food]] | author2=Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies | editor-last=Flynn | editor-first=Albert | display-editors=0 | date=February 2006 | title=Tolerable upper intake levels for vitamins and minerals | publication-place=Parma | publisher=European Food Safety Authority | isbn=978-92-9199-014-6 | oclc=123415533 | url=http://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/efsa_rep/blobserver_assets/ndatolerableuil.pdf | access-date=2020-01-03 | archive-date=2016-03-16 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316225123/http://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/efsa_rep/blobserver_assets/ndatolerableuil.pdf | url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Unbalanced ===
When too much of one or more nutrients is present in the diet to the exclusion of the proper amount of other nutrients, the diet is said to be unbalanced. High calorie food ingredients such as vegetable oils, sugar and alcohol are referred to as [[Empty calorie|"empty calories"]] because they displace from the diet foods that also contain protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber.<ref>{{cite web | title=What are empty calories? | website=USDA MyPlate 2011 | url=http://www.choosemyplate.gov/weight-management-calories/calories/empty-calories.html | access-date=20 October 2017 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130125320/http://www.choosemyplate.gov/weight-management-calories/calories/empty-calories.html | archive-date=30 January 2014 | date=27 March 2015}}</ref>

=== Illnesses caused by underconsumption and overconsumption ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Nutrients
! Deficiency
! Excess
|-
| colspan="3" style="background: #dd99cc; text-align: center;"| '''[[Macronutrient]]s'''
|-
| [[Food energy]]
| [[Starvation]], [[marasmus]]
| [[Obesity]], [[diabetes mellitus]], [[cardiovascular disease]]
|-
| [[Simple carbohydrate]]s
| None
| [[Obesity]], [[diabetes mellitus]], [[cardiovascular disease]]
|-
| [[Complex carbohydrate]]s
| None
| [[Obesity]], [[cardiovascular disease]] (high glycemic index foods)
|-
| [[Protein (nutrient)|Protein]]
| [[Kwashiorkor]]
| [[Protein poisoning]]
|-
| [[Saturated fat]]
| Low testosterone levels,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://deepfitness.com/705/The-Big-T-How-Your-Lifestyle-Influences-Your-Testosterone-Levels.aspx | title=The Big T: How Your Lifestyle Influences Your Testosterone Levels | publisher=Deepfitness.com | access-date=8 October 2013 | author=Berardi, John | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530054846/http://deepfitness.com/705/The-Big-T-How-Your-Lifestyle-Influences-Your-Testosterone-Levels.aspx | archive-date=30 May 2012}}</ref> vitamin deficiencies{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
| [[Obesity]], [[cardiovascular disease]]<ref name="ESC">{{cite journal | vauthors=Graham I, Atar D, Borch-Johnsen K, Boysen G, Burell G, Cifkova R, Dallongeville J, De Backer G, Ebrahim S, Gjelsvik B, Herrmann-Lingen C, Hoes A, Humphries S, Knapton M, Perk J, Priori SG, Pyorala K, Reiner Z, Ruilope L, Sans-Menendez S, Scholte op Reimer W, Weissberg P, Wood D, Yarnell J, Zamorano JL, Walma E, Fitzgerald T, Cooney MT, Dudina A | title=European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice: executive summary: Fourth Joint Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and Other Societies on Cardiovascular disease Prevention in Clinical Practice (Constituted by representatives of nine societies and by invited experts) | journal=European Heart Journal | volume=28 | issue=19 | pages=2375–414 | date=October 2007 | pmid=17726041 | doi=10.1093/eurheartj/ehm316 | author30 = European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Committee for Practice Guidelines (CPG) | doi-access=free | hdl=2066/52036 | hdl-access=free}}</ref>
|-
| [[Trans fat]]
| None
| [[Obesity]], [[cardiovascular disease]]
|-
| [[Unsaturated fat]]
| [[Fat-soluble]] vitamin deficiency
| [[Obesity]], [[cardiovascular disease]]
|-
| colspan="3" style="background: #dd99cc; text-align: center;"| '''[[Micronutrient]]s'''
|-
| [[Vitamin A]]
| [[Xerophthalmia]], [[night blindness]], and low testosterone levels{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
| [[Hypervitaminosis A]] (cirrhosis, hair loss)
|-
| [[Thiamin|Vitamin B<sub>1</sub>]]
| [[Beri-Beri]]
|
|-
| [[Riboflavin|Vitamin B<sub>2</sub>]]
| Skin and corneal [[lesion]]s, cracking of skin and corneal unclearation
|
|-
| [[Niacin (nutrient)|Niacin]]
| [[Pellagra]]
| [[Dyspepsia]], [[cardiac arrhythmia]]s, birth defects
|-
| [[Biotin]]
| [[Biotin deficiency]]
| Reproductive and [[Teratology|teratogenic]] effects
|-
|[[Folate]]
|[[Megaloblastic anemia|Anemia]]
|Masks B<sub>12</sub> deficiency, which can lead to permanent [[neurological]] damage
|-
| [[Vitamin B12|Vitamin B<sub>12</sub>]]
| [[Pernicious anemia]], nerve cell damage
|
|-
| [[Vitamin C]]
| [[Scurvy]]
| [[Diarrhea]] causing [[dehydration]]
|-
| [[Vitamin D]]
| [[Rickets]], [[osteomalacia]]
| [[Hypervitaminosis D]] (dehydration, vomiting, constipation)
|-
| [[Vitamin E]]
| Neurological disease
| [[Hypervitaminosis E]] (anticoagulant: excessive bleeding)
|-
| [[Vitamin K]]
| [[Hemorrhage]]
|
|-
| [[Omega-3 fatty acid|Omega-3 fats]]
| [[Cardiovascular disease]]
| Bleeding, hemorrhages, [[hemorrhagic stroke]], reduced glycemic control among diabetics
|-
| [[Omega-6 fatty acid|Omega-6 fats]]
| None
| [[Cardiovascular disease]], [[Cancer]]
|-
| [[Cholesterol]]
|
| [[Cardiovascular disease]]:<ref name=ESC /> [[atherosclerotic plaques]], [[heart attack]], [[stroke]]
|-
| colspan="3" style="background: #dd99cc; text-align: center;"| '''[[Macromineral]]s'''
|-
| [[Calcium]]
| [[Osteoporosis]], [[Tetany (medical sign)|tetany]], [[carpopedal spasm]], [[laryngospasm]], [[cardiac arrhythmia]]s
| [[Fatigue (physical)|Fatigue]], [[clinical depression|depression]], [[confusion]], [[nausea]], [[vomiting]], [[constipation]], [[pancreatitis]], [[polyuria|increased urination]], [[kidney stones]], [[anorexia (symptom)|anorexia]]{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
|-
| [[Magnesium]]
| [[Hypertension]]
| Weakness, nausea, vomiting, impaired breathing, and [[hypotension]]
|-
| [[Potassium]]
| [[Hypokalemia]], [[cardiac arrhythmia]]s
| [[Hyperkalemia]], [[palpitation]]s
|-
| [[Sodium]]
| [[Hyponatremia]]
| [[Hypernatremia]], [[hypertension]]
|-
| colspan="3" style="background:#dd99cc; text-align: center;"| '''[[Trace mineral]]s'''
|-
| [[Iron]]
| [[Anemia]]
| [[Cirrhosis]], [[hereditary hemochromatosis]], [[heart disease]], [[cardiovascular disease]]
|-
| [[Iodine]]
| [[Goiter]], [[hypothyroidism]]
| [[Iodine#Toxicity|Iodine toxicity]] (goiter, hypothyroidism)
|}