International Nutrition Issues: Understanding the Impact of Vitamin Deficiencies and Significance of Healthy Diets

In this document we will discuss about International Nutrition Issues and below are the summary points of this document:- Introduction to international nutrition issues and the importance of a proper healthy diet. Focus on the lack of vitamins as a major issue in developing countries and its impact on individuals and society. Discussion of signs and symptoms of vitamin deficiencies, such as fragile hair and nails, bleeding gums, and undernutrition.

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INTERNATIONAL NUTRITION ISSUES
by
BSc/FdSc Applied Food and Nutrition
Helen Darracott
Name of school
City
Date

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International Nutrition Issues
Introduction
Nutrition involves the study of nutrients in the food, how the body utilizes nutrients and
the link between diet, health and diseases. Its main concern is how diseases can be minimized
with a proper healthy diet. Basically, it is about detecting how dietary aspects like poor diet, food
allergies and food intolerances course certain diseases and conditions. Nutrition is a home of
nourishment and component of foods like proteins, starches, flabs, vitamins, mineral, roughage
and water. Nutrition disorder is where by there is inadequate supply of essential nutrients in the
diet, for instance, vitamins, fiber or proteins thus leading to malnutrition or diseases. It is caused
by inadequate intake of food or specific nutrients, failure of the body to absorb and make use of
the present nutrients or overconsumption of certain foods. According to World Health
Organization, there have been several nutrition issues that pose a great challenge in the field of
health. In this essay, we are going to focus on lack of vitamins which is one of the major issue
that affects most of the developing countries. We shall discuss how it is caused, how it manifests
itself, signs and symptoms and how its effect may Impact on an individual and the society at
large, how the nutritional issue is assessed in the field, tools and techniques used to identify
levels of the vitamin deficiency.
Vitamin is an essential micronutrient organic molecule that the body needs in small amounts for
proper functioning of its metabolism. The foods we consume are the best sources of vitamins but

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supplements can also be used. There are various types of vitamins. For instance, vitamin A, B,
B2, B3, D, C. The following are various signs and symptoms of lack of vitamins in the body.
Lack of vitamin B7 in the body will cause fragile hair and nails. Nails and will not be so
strong and thus leading to frequent breakage. This vitamin will help to convert the food into
energy that will be used in the development of strong hair and nails. The patient may also
experience muscle discomfort and fatigue. Those who are likely to be affected by this deficiency
are heavy smokers. When you observe most of the smokers and drinkers you will realize that
they have weak nails that appear to be pale. Most of children especially in developing countries
appear to have fragile hair. One of the reason for this is lack of enough vitamin B7 in their bodies
(Hales et al.2018, p.1724). This deficiency can be manifested through failure to consume foods
like fish, meat, sweet potatoes, yeast and bananas.
Bleeding gum is another sign of an important vitamin in the body. Sometimes brushing
your teeth even, a million times may not be solution. Diet with no vitamin C may be the major
problem. This vitamin helps in immunity and wound healing. It prevents cell damage and plays
an important role in antioxidant. Scurvy is also another serious consequence for lack vitamin C
in the diet. It depresses the immune system, weakens muscles and bones and causes fatigue. This
deficiency is manifested when one fails to consume enough fruits and vegetables.

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Another signs of lack of vitamins in the body is undernutrition. (Ke et al. 2015, p. 90),
This problem is prevalent in most undeveloped countries like Sudan, Africa.Becouse of the poor
economy, high rate of unemployment, most of the citizens cannot afford certain food stuff that
have the right nutrients (Adeyeye, Adebayo-Oyetoro & Tiamiyu 2017, p. 757). Undernutrition
involves failure to meet an individual’s needs to maintain good health due to insufficient intake
energy and nutrients (Whitney & Rolfes 2018, p. 56). It can be measured through various means
like body composition, clinical signs of deficiency-where they use a combination of qualitative
and quantitative description of undernutrition like marasmus and kwashiorkor. It is mainly
caused by insufficient calories and other factors like poor hygiene, poor nutrition to mothers in
maternity and lack of food of the right quality and quantity (Saunders, Smith & Stroud 2019,
p.231). Calories play an important role in the body. Their absence in the body may led to
weakness in the body and lack of energy to perform some tasks. Poor hygiene can be dangerous
if no preventive measures are taken. It can lead to attack of deadly diseases like cholera and
typhoid. Most of the third world countries have reported high rates of mortality both to the young
and old because of cholera that is caused by poor hygiene. Maternal nutrition is a creation aspect
for it involves lives of two lives. Lack of a balanced diet for the expectant mothers may lead to
underweight babies with complications. Insufficient quantity and quality of food also causes
undernutrition. Taking foods that lack proteins or carbohydrates or other important diet is one of
the biggest challenge faced. It leads to emergence of diseases like kwashiorkor, anemia and
marasmus. Generally, hunger and undernutrition are nutrition issues faced everywhere. It leads
to reduced body weight in children, interferes with physical health and course cognitive
impairment.

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Vitamins is an example of a micronutrient. Micronutrients are those nutrients needed in
small quantities. Examples include minerals which our bodies need to make up for any scarcities.
Potassium which plays an important role in co-regulating an important carrier of energy to the
cells. Lack of potassium in the body can affect the nervous system and the heart. Other important
micronutrients include calcium which helps to build muscles and bones. Magnesium, Zinc,
phosphorous etc. Lack of essential vitamins and minerals needed in small but acceptable
quantities by the body for appropriate growth and development has caused increased death rate
for both the young and the old. According to Ehrhard et al. (2006, p.109), most of African
developing countries like Uganda, children have stranded growth and weak physical structure.
They lack proper nutrients in most of their meals. Some not only lack the required nutrients but
also food to eat. This problem does not only affect children but also adults. Pregnant women are
also affected with this issue, lack of proper nutrition during pregnancy and after delivery lead to
children who are deformed and with many side effects. The diagrams below summarize the
Percentage of population with selected micronutrients deficiencies in Africa and other parts of
the world and the effect of micronutrients deficiency in babies, children, adolescent’s adults and
the elderly respectively.

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Vision problems due to lack or low intake of vitamin A (“American Diabetes
Association” 2018, p.42). This problem reduces people’s ability to in darkness. It also courses
white growth on the eyes. If this problem in not treated, it can lead to total blindness. This

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problem is prevalent in the developing countries than developed countries because if it is
detected in people from developed countries, immediate action is taken. Vitamin A is necessary
to produce a pigment in retinas that will help prevent this problem. It can be prevented by eating
foods like eggs, organ meat, dairy and dark leafy greens.
The nutrition issues discussed above largely impact on the individual and the society at large.
On individuals, the issue is likely to cause deadly diseases. For instance, children will
easily contact kwashiorkor, anemia, and marasmus. Heart diseases and diabetes for both the
young and adults due to obesity. All these diseases will end up causing unplanned death to the
undeserving. Panagariya (2014, p. 102), says that in developing countries like India and most of
African countries, death rate among children who die from malnutrition keep increasing each
year. The adults, elderly are also affected (Fávaro-Moreira et al.2014, p. 234). Most of those
countries experience food problems, poor hygiene which are the main causes of death.
The chances of an individual falling into depression are high. Poor nutrition may lead to
deformation or serious physical damage. Most of the infected feel isolated and very different
from the rest-like those with obese. They end up falling into depression which may eventually
end their lives. Pregnant mothers may deliver babies with complications (Hamel et al. 2015,
p.56). They may appear weak with diseases that may not be so easy to cure.
As for the society, nutrition issues impact in several ways as discussed below
Poor economic development-causes poor economic development because money that
could have been used for implementation and performance of major projects in the society like
building roads is used to treat those with nutritional diseases. Lot of money is used for checkup

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and buying medicines. Instead of focusing on economic growth, a lot of concentration is put on
matters of health.
Increased death rate in infants, children, adults and elderly. The body needs food that is
well balanced-contains proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins for it to fully perform as required. If it
lacks the required nutrients, it becomes weak and eventually stops to functions. The individual
will eventually die. This will largely affect the society, the more the number of death the lesser
the population becomes.
Destruction in education and learning process. When a child goes to school on an
empty stomach, his or her concentration and participation in class is likely to be lower than who
has eaten a well-balanced diet. Nutrition issues are likely to cause poor performance of the
student in class. It heavily affects the society if the student decides to drop out because there will
be less educated and knowledgeable individuals as expected.
Slow development in the society. This maybe because of the unavailability of strong
and skilled individuals to provide labor when performing various project (Hales et al. 2018,
p.1725). Without eating a balanced diet including carbohydrates, one becomes weak thus making
it hard to perform heavy tasks. Base people cannot perform heavy duties and those that require
lots of movement.
Nutrition problems may lead to poor living standards, increased number of orphans,
widows and widowers (Rahman et al.2016, p.46). Most members of the society lose their family
and close relatives because of nutrition related problems, like diabetes, heart diseases. Children
and spouses are living in poor standards because many of those who die are the breadwinners of
the affected families.

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Birth defect due to poor nutrition is common for many females. They give birth to
children with defects (Santucci & Hyman 2018, p.78). They may also experience preterm and
low birth. If they have unsupportive partners who do not understand what is happening, they end
up being single mothers or if both of them do not understand, they will blame on each other,
giving rise to a serious conflict.
Because of nutrition issues like hunger, the rate of theft in the society will increase.
When one wants to eat a balanced diet and quench hunger, but has no means in which he or she
can obtain food, most will turn to theft. Theft is not acceptable in the society and anyone who
may engage in such activities faces legal actions. Others end up being killed after they are caught
in the act (Hicks et al. 2014, p.1076).
Vitamin deficiency can be assessed in various ways, example; assessing the existence or
absenteeism of XN in a child, efforts should be made to detect one or more close appropriate
relations before resorting to a report of the clinical situations (Cowling et al.2019,p,67). An
antiquity of XN during older gestation may be attained from all womenfolk of motherhood.
Plasma retinol determination are effective if cautiously examined by HPLC.The techniques used
to determine levels of vitamin deficiency include; immunoassay-based which is performed in a
rapid and automated manner thus allowing more tests within a short time. Use of HPLC which is
a less costly instrument with high throughput. Third instrument is the liquid chromatography-
mass spectrometry that is highly sensitive and allows easy identification of vitamin D related
metabolites
Conclusion

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Vitamin deficiency is one of the key nutritional issues especially in developing
countries.We should all eat food rich in vitamin like vitamin A, B to help prevent effects like
night blindness, scurvy, weak bones and immune system (Agarwal et al. 2019, p.761). There will
be less cases of disease like diabetes, heart diseases, anemia, and kwashiorkor. The rate of
mortality caused by nutrition problems will reduce. Both the individual and the society at large
will never have to face nutrition related crises. The assessment tools such as use of HPLC are
important and should be given full attention to help offer the best medical services to those with
vitamin deficiency issues. Most health organizations like World Health Organization (WHO) are
putting in more efforts to come up with ways and strategies that will encourage and ensure all the
above desires are achieved (Cowling et al.2019, p.83).

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