Deficiency Diseases

• A person might suffer from a deficiency disease if their diet lacks certain essential minerals and vitamins
• Two essential minerals and vitamins are:
• Iodine and
• Vitamins

Iodine

Goitre is a sign of iodine deficiency. Image credit betacharibletrust.org

• Is a naturally occurring mineral element
• However some people do not get it in enough quantities naturally
• Iodine is required by the thyroid gland found in the neck
• As part of the body’s metabolism in order to make a substance known as thyroxine which regulates growth and development

Symptoms of iodine deficiency

• In children there might be stunted physical and mental growth
• Adults might develop a goitre
• A goitre is a swelling of the thyroid gland.
• In children mental development might slow down their physical and mental development
• Resulting in children referred to as cretins

Overcoming iodine deficiency

• This can be overcome by using iodised salt

Vitamin A

• Is found in foods like fresh vegetables and liver

Symptoms of Vitamin A deficiency

• Poor development of the trachea lining
• This results in opportunistic infections of the trachea and bronchi
• Poor night vision/Night blindness

Overcoming the deficiency

• Eating food rich in vitamin A
• Such foods include  dairy produce (cheese, milk, ice cream etc), carrots, cabbage and tomatoes

NB All these deficiency symptoms and others can be avoided by eating a balanced diet.

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