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Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                        Volume 3, October 2016                  
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

Perspective Piece  

Neurological Disturbances Caused by  

Nutritional Deficit 

Maria Altaf & Sadaf Ahmed 

Advance Educational Institute and Research Center  

Corresponding Author: Maria@aeirc-edu.com 

 

Nutrition plays an important role in our lives to fight 

against any certain chronic state and its deficiency 

creates a damage that is termed as nutritional stress 

(Sadaf Ahmed, Shamoon Noushad 2014). 

Consequences stressing life events can lead to the 

onset and course of mood deterioration and affective 

disorders such as depression. Malnutrition has been 

observed to affect a variety of the organ systems in 

body with central nervous system being on top to be 

disrupted. Around 792 million people in the world 

are having a malnutrition state due to food deficits 

(Thornhill S et al, 2000). A number of nutritional 

conditions have been observed to raise the Global 

burden of nutritional disorders; these include the 

protein deficiency, iron deficiency and vitamin A 

deficiency. The neurological disorders associated 

with malnutrition can be reverted and hence it is of 

great importance for the public health concern. There 

are several disorders associated with the nutritional 

deficiency; some of them are briefly discussed in this 

review.   

 

The epidemiology, risk factors and the burden of 

disease 

The dietary nutrients required by human body can be 

grouped as macro nutrients and micro nutrients. The 

macronutrients are observed to yield energy from 

nutrients as the proteins, carbohydrates and fats, 

whereas, the micronutrients yield minerals and 

vitamins. The macronutrient serves as “firewood” 

and “building blocks” for the body, whereas, the 

micronutrients serves as a building blocks to enzymes 

and hormone. The term malnutrition addresses both 

the macro and micro nutrients. The total energy 

required in childhood is 2200 kcal and if any 

individual is deprived of this energy, the long term 

mental deficits are seen with these consequences. The 

deficiency of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) causes beri-

beri, polyneuropathy and Wernicke’s 

encephalopathy. Vitamin B3 (Niacin) with RDA of 

15 mg is required, its deficiency causes dementia and 

depression. The deficiency of Vitamin B6 

(Pyridoxine) causes Polyneuropathy. Vitamin B12 

(Cobalamine) deficiency causes the sensory 

disturbance in legs and the folate (RDA= 180 μg) 

deficiency causes the neural tube defects in fetus. The 

iron deficiency has been observed to cause delayed 

mental development in children, whereas, the zinc 

deficiency causes delayed motor development in 

children, depression and anxiety in adults.  

 

The contribution of epidemiological studies 

suggested that the intake of fish, green vegetables and 

fruits can reverse back the adverse condition 

associated with these disorders. The Mediterranean 

diet is beneficial to prolong the quality life survival 

of an Alzheimer’s patient. 

  

The Neurological Complications Associated With 

Malnutrition 

 

Macronutrient deficiency 

The macronutrient deficiency involves the deficits 

caused due to protein, carbohydrate and fats. The 

under nutrition consequences can estimate by the 

body weight measurements. The body weight 

measurements along with the aspects of age and sex 

can evaluate the energy stores of the individual. The 

stunted growth is observed as a wide spread 

consequence in underprivileged populations. The 

global standard for stunting amongst children in low 

income countries is 32% (Rimel RW et al, 1982). 

 

Long-term effects of malnutrition   

Malnourished people lacks energy, so they become 

less curious and communicate less with the people, 

this weakens their physical, mental and cognitive 

development. Literature depicts the long term 

neurological deficits has been caused by malnutrition 

(Masson F et al, 2003; Tagliaferri F et al, 2006). 

Several studies concluded that stunting in younger 

age causes a cognitive decline; these studies proved 

their results by evaluating the cognitive decline of 

school going children by testing their IQ level, 

reading, arithmetic calculations, reasoning questions, 

vocabulary, and visual-spatial working memory, 

simple and complex working memory (Masson F et 

al, 2003).  

 

Micronutrient deficiency 

The micronutrient serves as cofactors for enzymes 

and is engaged in various biochemical reactions. 

http://www.aeirc-edu.com/


 

Maria Altaf 70 

  

Annals of Psychophysiology                                                                                                        Volume 3, October 2016                  
©Advance Educational Institute & Research Centre                                                                    www.aeirc-edu.com 

ISSN 2412 - 3188 
 

Vitamin A regulates two important functions of body, 

the systemic functions and the visual functions. 

Vitamin A is being an important element for the 

production of mucopolysaccharides and helps to 

protect against infections. The wetness of mucous 

membrane is diminished with the deficiency of 

Vitamin A; this can be observed as xerophthalmia 

(dry eye). Vitamin A deficiency develops rapidly in 

children with measles, as in infections the body 

utilizes its vitamin A stores immediately. 

  

The vitamin D deficiency has been associated with 

multiple sclerosis. Vitamin B1 deficiency causes 

beri-beri and the main symptom is a polyneuropathy 

in the legs (Berg J, Tagliaferri F, Servadei F, 2005). 

The Wernicke’s encephalopathy has been observed 

with the prolong use of alcohol, it has been 

characterized by confusion, unsteadiness and eye 

movement disorders. It can be reversed if treated with 

accurate dosage at right time (Berg J, Tagliaferri F, 

Servadei F, 2005). Vitamin B 3 deficiency leads to 

“pellagra”, it represents the roughness of skin, 

occasionally it has been appeared along with the with 

three Ds: dermatitis, diarrhoea and dementia. Vitamin 

B6 (pyridoxine) regulate the mental functions, the 

neurological disorders associated with Vitamin B6 

deficiency are seizures, migraine and depression.  

 

 

 

 

Conclusion 

Nutrition plays an important role in our lives to fight 

against any certain chronic state and its deficiency 

creates a noticeable damage to the health status. A 

strong relationship has been found between the 

nutritional deficiency and neurological disorders. 

These nutritional factors may contribute to the 

pathogenesis of neurological diseases.   The intake of 

fish, green vegetables and fruits can reverse back the 

adverse condition associated with these disorders. 

 

References 

 Berg J, Tagliaferri F, Servadei F. Cost of trauma 

in Europe. European Journal of Neurology, 2005, 

12(Suppl. 1):85–90 

 Masson F et al. Epidemiology of traumatic 

comas: a prospective population-based study. 

Brain Injury, 2003, 17:279–293.  

 Rimel RW et al. Moderate head injury: 

completing the clinical spectrum of brain trauma. 

Neurosurgery, 1982, 11:344–351. 

 Sadaf Ahmed, Shamoon Noushad :do nutrition 

cause stress?; Review your diet. Nutritional stress 

:2014 

 Tagliaferri F et al. A systematic review of brain 

injury epidemiology in Europe. Acta 

Neurochirugica, 2006, 148:255–268. 

 Thornhill S et al. Disability in young people and 

adults one year after head injury: prospective 

cohort study. BMJ, 2000, 320:1631–163

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

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