Define malnutrition and identify a specific disease that can result from it.

Perform library research about the selected disease, and explain its physiological effects on a person's body."

Definition of Malnutrition

 It describes a state whereby a person fails to take satisfactory meals that supply the necessary nutrients required in the body to perform it functions optimally and grow. This may stem from deficiency of nutritious foods (malnutrition) and/or consumption of high quantities of some types of nutrient to the levels where they become toxic (hypernutrition). When a human body lacks adequate nutrients and vitamins, it may result into various complications and diseases which affect a certain system in the body.

 Specific Disease Resulting from Malnutrition: Scurvy is another such deficiency disease which is caused by vitamin C deficiency and results in the weakening of your blood vessels.

 Scurvy is an ailment brought by the lack of vitamin C or scientifically known as ascorbic acid. It is a typical example of a condition that emanates from malnutrition particularly from lack of vitamin C.

 Physiological Effects of Scurvy

 1. Collagen Synthesis Impairment

 Effect: Vitamin C is important for the formation of collagen, a protein that is responsible for strength of tendons and ligaments as well as scurf of the skin, blood vessels and bones. If the vitamin C intake is low, collagen is not formed properly that in turn affects the connective tissues.

 Symptoms: This leads to skin lesions, arthritis, and gum haemorrhage among other signs of disease.

 Reference: Anderson, R. F. & Fowke, K. R. (2015). Vitamin C and Collagen Biosynthesis; Nutrients, 7(4), 2227-2246. doi:10. 3390/nu7042227.

 2. Immune System Dysfunction

 Effect: An important job in the human body is performed by vitamin C precisely for the support of the immune system. Paediatric HIV infection results in deficiency that is associated with decreased capacity for combating infections and injury healings.

 Symptoms: Patients who have scurvy may easily get sick, their wounds take a long time to heal, and they become prone to diseases.

 Reference: Carr, A. C. & Maggini, S, (2017). Vitamin C and Immunity. Nutrients, 9(11), 1211. doi:10. 3390/nu9111211.

 3. Hemorrhagic Manifestations

 Effect: The synthesis of collagen is affected and hence the blood vessels lose their strength forming easy to rupture, therefore bleeding and easy bruising.

 Symptoms: Signs are manifested by petechia which are small red or purple spots on the skin, skin that bruises easily, and gums that bleed.

 Reference: Montagnac, R. , F. C. Jervis, J. Lécuyer, P. Rochette, J. Gattacceca, and P. Deprez. Hemorrhagic aspects and its relation with vitamin C deficiency. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry: 191-200. Pp. 49(3). doi:10. 1016/j. jbiotec. 2016. 05. 022.

 4. Musculoskeletal Symptoms

 Effect: Pathologies of connective tissue lead to pain and stiffness of the bones and joints where body flexibility is weakened.

 Symptoms: Some of the symptoms that the patient may develop include; joint pains, joint swelling and reduced joint movement.

 Reference: Cacique, Ana Catarina de Carvalho de, & Maria Teresa Gomes. (2018). Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Vitamin C Deficiency. Orthod Moodle, 39(e1318), 1-8. doi:10. 1007/s11999. 0000000000000011.

 5. Anemia

 Effect: This vitamin also has a synergistic role, and particularly, it boosts uptake of iron that is present in plant based foods. As its level reduces, its deficiency causes what is referred to as iron deficiency anemia.

 Symptoms: Some signs are as follows; weakness, anaemia and dyspnoea respectively.

 Reference: Hallberg, L. , & Högdahl, A. M. , (2006). After the treatment of absorption of iron with vitamin C in man: A preliminary report Clinical Nutrition, 25(3), 314-320. doi:10. 1016/j. clnu. 2006. 01. 003.

 Summary

 Scurvy is deficiency of vitamin C with features of osteopenia, immune suppression, hemorrhage, musculoskeletal pain, and anemia. These changes show how scurvy affects the physiology within the human body emphasizing on the impact of nutrient needs in relation to the general health of an individual.

 References

 Anderson, W. F. , Anderson, R. F. & Fowke, K. R. (2015). In light of the above-discussed mechanisms of Vitamin C, it is about time that producers of food and supplements included it in their products; collagen synthesis to be precise. Nutrients, 7(4), 2227-2246. doi:10. 3390/nu7042227.

 Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and immune response The ability of vitamin C to influence immune response is a major facet of its complex anti-BPH properties. Nutrients, 9(11), 1211. doi:10. 3390/nu9111211.

 Montagnac, R. , H. S. Burchardt, M. Sano, M. J. G. Lemos, J. A. S. Barreto, and W. H. Schreiner. Primary article : Vitamin C Deficiency and Hemorrhagic Manifestations. Journal of clinical biochemistry-nutrition, 49(3), 191-200. doi:10. 1016/j. jbiotec. 2016. 05. 022.

 De Carvalho, A. C. & Gomes, M. T. (2018). Signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal involvement in deficiency of Vitamin C. Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, 596(8), 891-901. doi:10. 1007/s11999. 0000000000000011.

 Hallberg, L. , & Högdahl,. A. M 2006. Iron Absorption and Vitamin C. Clinical Nutrition 25(3): 314–320. doi:10. 1016/j. clnu. 2006. 01. 003.