Reuniting overnutrition and undernutrition, macronutrients, and micronutrients

Publication Date

2018

Journal Title

Diabetes Metab Res Rev

Abstract

© 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Over-nutrition and its late consequences are a dominant theme in medicine today. In addition to the health hazards brought on by over-nutrition, the medical community has recently accumulated a roster of health benefits with obesity, grouped under “obesity paradox.” Throughout the world and throughout history until the 20thcentury, under-nutrition was a dominant evolutionary force. Under-nutrition brings with it a mix of benefits and detriments that are opposite to and continuous with those of over-nutrition. This continuum yields J-shaped or U-shaped curves relating body mass index to mortality. The overweight have an elevated risk of dying in middle age of degenerative diseases while the underweight are at increased risk of premature death from infectious conditions. Micronutrient deficiencies, major concerns of nutritional science in the 20thcentury, are being neglected. This “hidden hunger” is now surprisingly prevalent in all weight groups, even among the overweight. Because micronutrient replacement is safe, inexpensive, and predictably effective, it is now an exceptionally attractive target for therapy across the spectrum of weight and age. Nutrition-related conditions worthy of special attention from caregivers include excess vitamin A, excess vitamin D, and deficiency of magnesium.

Volume Number

35

Issue Number

1

Pages

e3072

Document Type

Article

Status

Faculty, Northwell Researcher

Facility

School of Medicine; Northwell Health

Primary Department

Molecular Medicine

PMID

30171821

DOI

10.1002/dmrr.3072

For the public and Northwell Health campuses

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