Malnutrition can be due to which of the following?

Malnutrition can be due to which of the following?

• A. It is always due to a single nutrient deficiency
• B. It can be a single nutrient deficiency or global malnutrition
• C. It never involves digestion or absorption problems
• D. It may be secondary to problems with digestion, absorption, or impaired blood or lymph flow

Answer: (D)

Malnutrition isn’t just about not eating enough; it can arise from problems that prevent nutrients from being properly released, absorbed, or delivered to tissues. If digestion is impaired, nutrients aren’t liberated from food. If absorption is defective, even a normal or adequate intake doesn’t get into the bloodstream. If there are issues with blood or lymph flow, nutrients may not reach cells efficiently, leading to malnutrition despite intake. This is why malnutrition can be secondary to digestive or absorptive disorders or to failures in nutrient transport. The other statements are too narrow or incorrect because malnutrition can involve multiple nutrients or adequate intake but faulty delivery, and digestion or absorption problems can certainly cause it.

Malnutrition isn’t just about not eating enough; it can arise from problems that prevent nutrients from being properly released, absorbed, or delivered to tissues. If digestion is impaired, nutrients aren’t liberated from food. If absorption is defective, even a normal or adequate intake doesn’t get into the bloodstream. If there are issues with blood or lymph flow, nutrients may not reach cells efficiently, leading to malnutrition despite intake. This is why malnutrition can be secondary to digestive or absorptive disorders or to failures in nutrient transport. The other statements are too narrow or incorrect because malnutrition can involve multiple nutrients or adequate intake but faulty delivery, and digestion or absorption problems can certainly cause it.