Nutrition and Disease – Marasmus

Nutrition and Disease – Marasmus

Defining Malnutrition

The World Health Organization (2022) defines Malnutrition as the excesses or deficiencies in nutrient intake, impaired nutrient utilization, or imbalance of vital nutrients. With energy deficiency, an individual is likely to show symptoms of undernutrition as they become very thin, lose muscle tissue, and become susceptible to disease and infection. On the other hand, an individual who has an energy excess is likely to get obese and susceptible to diseases linked to over-nutrition, like diabetes and heart disease (Whitney & Rolfes, 2019). Malnutrition has a double burden that comprises obesity, overweight, and undernutrition, as well as non-communicable diseases linked to diet. Acute Malnutrition commonly presents itself in the form of kwashiorkor, marasmus, or a mix of kwashiorkor and marasmus. Initially, kwashiorkor was often linked to protein deficiency, whereas marasmus was linked to energy deficiency, and the two were termed protein-energy Malnutrition. It is understood that malnutrition results from a deficiency in several nutrients, such as potassium, amino acids, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium. These lead to loss of appetite, inability to resist disease, and diminished growth. Marasmus will be the major focus of this paper.

A Library Research on Marasmus and Its Physiological Effects

According to Whitney and Rolfes (2019), marasmus, which translates to “dying away,” is a common disease among children in impoverished and overpopulated places worldwide. Children in poverty lack sufficient food to eat and, therefore, resort to diluted cereal drinks that provide scant protein and energy of low quality. Such foods fail to support growth or sustain their lives. Consequently, the buttocks of these children appear to be without skin, and their thighs sag; hence, they are commonly said to be simply bones and skin (Titi-Lartey & Gupta, 2020). When the body lacks food, it starts feeding on its tissues, beginning with the adipose tissue or body fat and then the muscles. Furthermore, it starts shutting down some of its key functions in order to preserve energy. Consequently, there is a reduction in cardiac activity, resulting in low heart rate, low body temperature and blood pressure, and in some cases, heart failure (Titi-Lartey & Gupta, 2020). Since the immune system is compromised, marasmus exposes children to illnesses and infections, and they take time to recover. Those with chronic marasmus will lack the physical resources necessary to develop and grow normally. They tend to have intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, and stunted growth. Some digestive system parts also start to atrophy due to the lack of use. Consequently, when one with marasmus eats, they might fail to absorb nutrition from the food effectively and are likely to develop a food aversion. The common external marasmus signs include a prominent skeleton, visible wasting of muscle and fat, the face looking wizened and old, the head looking too large for the body, hair loss or brittle and dry hair, weight loss of over 40 per cent, weakness, apathy and lethargy, sunken fontanelles among infants and BMI less than 16 (Cleveland, 2022).

The Relationship Between Specific Foods/Nutrients and Marasmus

Marasmus is deficient in all the macronutrients, including protein, fats, and carbohydrates. With Malnutrition, avoiding sugar-free and low-fat drinks and foods is important. Providing foods rich in minerals and vitamins is important to safeguard against some deficiency diseases. The commonly used initial treatment for marasmus is dried skim milk powder that is mixed with boiled water. Later, the mixture can include sugar, casein, and vegetable oil like sesame. Casein is a milk protein, and the oil from it enhances mixture density and energy content (Paras Healthcare, 2022). When the child starts to recover, it is important to introduce a more balanced diet that will meet their individualized nutritional needs. A sample diet should include high protein and calorie foods like milk, boiled groundnut, rice, dal, and porridge. Other sources include carrots, soybeans, guava, and eggs. Since marasmus causes increased vulnerability to illnesses, antibiotics are needed to change the GI bacteria, reduce mortality, and enhance recovery rates. These foods will aid in proper weight gain and restoring muscles, body weight, and height.

Nutritional Recommendations

In an ideal scenario, enhanced complementary feedings and optimal breastfeeding will help prevent Malnutrition of any kind. In the case of marasmus, the first step would be to treat dehydration, micronutrient deficiencies, and electrolyte imbalances to help prepare the body for refeeding. Usually, these can be done using a single formula administered orally or a nasogastric tube. The individual also needs to be kept warm to avoid hypothermia. Refeeding must start slowly, starting with liquid formulas that balance fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Tube feeding is preferable for inpatients due to the gradual but continuous way that it allows nutrition. Calories need to be introduced at approximately 70 per cent of the normal recommended values for the individual’s age, and in due course, this can be increased to 140 per cent of the recommended values to meet the growth requirements for children with stunted growth (Titi-Lartey & Gupta, 2020). This can take two to six weeks, and over time, the patient slowly progresses to a more ordinary feeding involving solid foods.

References

Cleveland. (2022). Marasmus. Retrieved November 29, 2022, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23296-marasmus

Paras Healthcare. (2022). What are the diseases caused by Malnutrition? https://www.parashospitals.com/blogs/what-are-the-diseases-caused-by-malnutrition

Titi-Lartey, O. A., & Gupta, V. (2020). Marasmus. National Library of Medicine.

Whitney, E.N., & Rolfes, S.R. (2019). Understanding Nutrition (15 ed). Cengage Learning.

World Health Organization. (2022). Malnutrition. Retrieved November 29, 2022 from https://www.who.int/health-topics/malnutrition#tab=tab_1

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Nutrition plays a vital role in a person’s overall health and well-being. Not getting enough of the recommended nutrients over the long term can lead to malnutrition, which often results in disease and illness.

Nutrition and Disease – Marasmus

In a 3-page paper, written in APA format using proper spelling/grammar, address the following:

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.
Describe the relationship between specific foods/nutrients and the disease. Use the questions below to guide your response.
Does research indicate that lacking specific foods/nutrients increases a person’s chance of contracting the disease?
Are there specific foods/nutrients that should be avoided by an individual afflicted with the disease?
How do specific foods/nutrients work physiologically within the body to help combat the disease?
Evaluate nutritional recommendations to help combat the disease.
Cite at least 3 credible references and present the resources in APA format on the References page.