| deficiency, iron | Deficiency of iron results in anaemia because iron is necessary to make haemoglobin, the key molecule in red blood cells responsible for the transport of oxygen. In iron deficiency anaemia, the red cells are unusally small (microcytic) and pale (hypochromic). Characteristic features of iron deficiency anaemia in children include failure to thrive (grow) and increased infections. The treatment of iron deficiency anaemia , whether it be in children or adults, is with iron and iron-containing foods. Food sources of iron include meat, poultry, eggs, vegetables and cereals (especially those fortified with iron). According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Recommended Dietary Allowances of iron are 15 milligrams per day for women and 10 milligrams per day for men. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| deficiency, lactase | Lack of the enzyme lactase resulting in failure to digest lactose in milk (lactose intolerance). (12 Dec 1998) |
| deficiency, magnesium | Can occur due to inadequate intake or impaired intestinal absorption of magnesium. Low magnesium (hypomagnesaemia) is often associated with low calcium (hypocalcaemia) and potassium (hypokalaemia) levels. Deficiency of magnesium causes increased irritability of the nervous system with tetany (spasms of the hands and feet, muscular twitching and cramps, spasm of the larynx, etc.). According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Recommended Dietary Allowances of magnesium are 420milligrams per day for men and 320 milligrams per day for women. The upperlimit of magnesium as supplements is 350 milligrams daily, in addition to the magnesium from food and water. (12 Dec 1998) |
| deficiency mutant | Mutant with a nutritional requirement not present in the wild type organism. Synonym: defective organism, deficiency mutant. (05 Mar 2000) |
| deficiency, protein c | Protein C is a protein in plasma that enters into the cascade of biochemical events leading to the formation of a clot. Deficiency of protein C results in thrombotic (clotting) disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| deficiency, selenium | Deficiency of the essential mineral selenium causes Keshan disease, a fatal form of cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) first observed in Keshan province in China and since found elsewhere. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Recommended Dietary Allowances of selenium are 70 milligrams per day for men and 55 milligrams per day for women. Food sources of selenium include seafoods, some meats such as kidney and liver, and some grains and seeds. (12 Dec 1998) |
| deficiency symptom | Manifestation of a lack, in varying degrees, of some substance (e.g., hormone, enzyme, vitamin) necessary for normal structure and/or function of an organism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| deficiency, zinc | Deficiency of zinc is associated with short stature, anaemia, increased pigmentation of skin (hyperpigmentation), enlarged liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly), impaired gonadal function (hypogonadism), impaired wound healing, and immune deficiency. (For a genetic disorder that impairs zinc uptake, please see Acrodermatitis enteropathica). According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Recommended Dietary Allowances of zinc are 12 milligrams per day for women and 10 milligrams per day for men. Food sources of zinc include meat including liver, eggs, seafood, nuts and cereal. (12 Dec 1998) |
| disaccharidase deficiency | A digestive disorder caused by the body being unable to produce enough disaccharidase, an enzyme responsible for breaking down carbohydrates in the small intestine. This may cause symptoms such as intestinal gas and diarrhoea. (09 Oct 1997) |
| IgA deficiency | A dysgammaglobulinaemia characterised by a deficiency of IgA. (12 Dec 1998) |
| IgG deficiency | A dysgammaglobulinaemia characterised by a deficiency of IgG. (12 Dec 1998) |
| immune deficiency | Impaired ability of the bodys defence mechanisms to combat infections by bacteria, viruses and fungi. (13 Nov 1997) |
| immune deficiency diseases | Those diseases in which immune reactions are suppressed or reduced. Reasons may include congenital absence of B and/or T lymphocytes or viral killing of helper lymphocytes (see HIV). (18 Nov 1997) |
| immunity deficiency | Inabillity to mount a normal immune response. Immunodeficiency can be due to a genetic disease or acquired as in aids due to HIV. (12 Dec 1998) |
| immunoglobulin G subclass deficiency | A rare inherited disorder in which there are reduced levels of one or more IgG subclasses resulting from defective heavy chain genes or an abnormality in the regulation of immunoglobulin isotype switching. (05 Mar 2000) |