Deck 12: Nutritional Toxicity and Sensitivity

Question 1

What is malnutrition?

Answer 1

Too much or too little nutrients that cause morbidity, mortality or susceptibility to disease are all malnutrition. Undernutrition is deficient, while overnutrition is pharmacologic or toxic concentrations.

Question 2

What does too little ascorbic acid cause? Excess?

Answer 2

Too little vitamin C results in scurvy due to the lack of this important antioxidant and can augment the effects of Pb toxicity. Too much vitamin C results in mild gastrointestinal disturbances but at high levels can increase the formation of renal oxalate crystals resulting in renal failure.

Question 3

What does vitamin A deficiency cause? Excess?

Answer 3

Vitamin A deficiency is known to cause night blindness as it is the basis of rhodopsin. Deficiency can also suppress the immune response, skin (rashes) and blood cell formation. Interestingly, excess vitamin A causes skin problems, can decrease kidney function and suppressed immune function.

Question 4

What does selenium deficiency cause? Excess?

Question 5

What does calcium deficiency cause? Excess?

Question 6

What antibiotic is known for causing calcium deficiency? What toxicities are elevated by this deficiency?

Question 7

Sugar intake in the U.S. leads to a number of diseases. What may be there mechanisms of formation?