deficiency disease

Other forms: deficiency diseases

Definitions of deficiency disease

1. noun

   any disease caused by a lack of an essential nutrient (as a vitamin or mineral)
   types:

   malnutrition

   a state of poor nutrition; can result from insufficient or excessive or unbalanced diet or from inability to absorb foods

   zinc deficiency

   a deficiency caused by inadequate zinc in the diet or by liver disease or cystic fibrosis or other diseases

   avitaminosis, hypovitaminosis

   any of several diseases caused by deficiency of one or more vitamins

   kwashiorkor

   severe malnutrition in children resulting from a diet excessively high in carbohydrates and low in protein

   marasmus

   extreme malnutrition and emaciation (especially in children); can result from inadequate intake of food or from malabsorption or metabolic disorders

   type of:

   disease

   an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning