What is Nutrient Depletion?

Nutrient depletion describes a condition where the body doesn't have enough of a particular nutrient to function as well as it can. For the body to maintain good health, by making new muscle cells, producing hormones and infection-fighting chemicals, it needs to take in - and keep - nutrients.

Nutrients include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Nutrients can be divided into essential (nutrients that the body cannot make itself and therefore needs to obtain from foods) and non-essential (nutrients that the body can synthesize from other components).

Nutrients can also be divided into macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients provide the body with energy and include proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals help the body make good use of the macronutrients. Micronutrients cannot be produced by the body and must come from outside sources, such as the diet or nutritional supplements. Although only a small amount of these micronutrients are required, deficiencies in any number of these can lead to health problems. For example, folic acid deficiency can lead to anemia, and low calcium levels may put you at increased risk of osteoporosis. Thus, it's necessary to maintain proper nutrient levels in order to keep your body healthy.

Nutrient depletion can arise from a number of different factors and include diet, diseases and medications. Each of these factors can affect the way nutrients are absorbed, synthesized, moved around the body, stored, broken down, and eliminated.

Nutrient Depletion Caused by Diet
A well-balanced diet can help the body get the energy and essential nutrients necessary for proper health. However, in our society, we are eating more and more energy-rich, low nutrient foods, and this is leading to higher rates of obesity. When these low-nutrient foods such as carbonated beverages, and high-fat, salty snacks replace more nutrient-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables, they rob the body of essential nutrients. If you have any questions about your diet and eating healthy speak with your doctor or dietitian.

Nutrient Depletion Caused by Diseases
Diseases can also prevent the body from getting the nutrients it needs. For example, conditions affecting the intestinal lining and diseases that cause symptoms of nausea and diarrhea can prevent nutrients from being properly absorbed into the body. This occurs because the body is not given enough time to absorb nutrients from the food before it is eliminated from the body. Diseases affecting the intestinal lining can also lead to nutrient depletion in other ways. It is important to keep in mind the body's nutrient levels in diseases such as cancer, AIDS, and inflammatory bowel disease since these conditions can lead to a nutrient depleted state. If you have any questions relating to your health condition and if it may affect nutrient depletion, please speak with your doctor or PharmEXPERT Pharmacist.

Nutrient Depletion Caused by Medications
Drug-induced nutrient depletion is a fairly new term, but the concept of drugs causing the body to lose nutrients is not new. Many prescription and even non-prescription drugs can interact with nutrients and, over time, can cause nutrient depletion. People who are using medications over a long period of time should pay special attention to their nutrition, as they may be at greater risk. For some people, adding a new medication to an already poor diet and/or disease may be the final straw that pushes them into a depleted state. As well, some medication side effects may be the result of a drug-nutrient interaction. Make sure to ask your PharmEXPERT Pharmacist about the possible nutritional effects of any new medication that you may be using, whether it's prescription or over-the-counter. Your PharmEXPERT Pharmacist can help maximize the benefit you get from your medication while minimizing side effects.

Am I taking a medication that can cause nutrient depletion?
You may be using any number of medications right now. But do you know which ones can cause nutrient depletion? Please refer to Table 1 for some common medications that are known to cause nutrient depletion. If you are taking a medication that is not found in Table 1, or if you have any other medication concerns, please consult your PharmEXPERT Pharmacist or doctor. A good tip before seeing your doctor or PharmEXPERT Pharmacist would be to write down a list of all the medications that you are using, both prescription and non-prescription.

I'm using a medication that can deplete nutrients. What should I do now?
For most people, eating a well-balanced diet will usually supply your body with enough nutrients to stay healthy. However, nutrient deficiencies still manage to occur in many people, whether from their diet, a disease, or drugs. Fortunately, nutrient deficiencies can be treated with the help of nutrient supplementation, which may involve once-a-day multivitamins, groups of specific types of vitamins often called a vitamin complex, or specific mineral or vitamin supplements. Supplements can also come in a wide range of dosage forms, from tablets to liquids to injections and even to jelly bears.

It is important to remember, however, that consuming too much of a nutrient can also be toxic to the body. Therefore, when thinking about a nutrient supplement, you should always consult your PharmEXPERT Pharmacist or doctor to help you select the most appropriate supplement and type for your needs.

In order to determine if you are suffering from a nutrient deficiency, your doctor will need to gather information that generally involves a medical history, a physical examination, and selected laboratory tests. Laboratory tests are available to determine specific nutrient levels in the body. The results of these tests help to determine if a deficient state is present and help guide treatment. Please ask your doctor if a laboratory test is appropriate for you.

Table 1: Common drug-induced nutrient depletion examples