Hyponutrition - Causes and Symptoms

Definition

The undernourishment (or malnutrition) is a physical state that is established when, for long periods, the supply of nutrients is insufficient to meet the daily needs of the organism. This form of malnutrition is often the expression of disorders that reduce appetite or impair digestion, absorption or metabolism of nutrients (note: malnutrition also includes over-nutrition).

The risk of undernutrition is greater in certain periods of life when the need for nutrients increases, ie in childhood, adolescence, pregnancy, lactation and old age. Some individuals are particularly at risk of malnutrition, as they are unable to feed themselves (note: the patient must be able to buy food and cook it, otherwise it is more correct to speak of starvation).

Inadequate nutrient ingestion can result from dental problems that limit the ability to chew food.
Dysphagia and other physical problems that hinder nutrition, such as esophageal candidiasis, xerostomia, stroke and other neurological diseases, can reduce food intake.
Anorexia nervosa and depression are other disorders that lead to inadequate amounts of food and result in under-nourishment.
Malabsorption can be caused by celiac disease, pancreatic insufficiency, liver disease or other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.
Cholelithiasis can cause weight loss by inducing early satiety.
The use of certain drugs, intestinal resections and other surgical procedures can compromise the absorption of many nutrients.
Chronic infections, cancer, trauma, hyperthyroidism, diffuse burns and prolonged fever, on the other hand, increase metabolic demands.
Undernutrition can be the result of unbalanced vegan diets or highly hypocaloric diets, alcoholism or toxic addiction.
Some medications reduce appetite, impair metabolism or alter the absorption of certain nutrients.

The symptoms that make hyponutrition evident are variable, but may include: rashes, easy bruising, thinning or hair loss, night vision deficiency, blood from the gums, muscular hypotrophy, bone fragility, numbness and sensory deficits.