Can malnutrition cause delayed menstruation?

Malnutrition is a term that describes a physical condition caused by an inadequate or inadequate diet. It generally refers to insufficient nutrition caused by insufficient intake, poor digestion and absorption, or excessive consumption of nutrients, but it may also include nutritional deficiencies caused by overeating or excessive intake of specific nutrients. So will malnutrition cause delayed menstruation?

Severe malnutrition can cause amenorrhea. If a woman has severe malnutrition, anemia, etc., it is easy to cause menstrual disorders. The most common is delayed menstruation, and in severe cases, amenorrhea occurs. Severe malnutrition causes protein deficiency in the body, which is the main raw material for the production of estrogen. If protein intake is insufficient, estrogen production will be blocked and normal menstruation will be affected. In mild cases, menstruation is delayed or the menstrual flow is light, while in severe cases, amenorrhea occurs. If amenorrhea is caused by malnutrition, the treatment method is to pay attention to the intake of nutrients, supplement the nutrients needed by the body, and meet the needs of the body's normal metabolism. Severe malnutrition can affect normal endocrine function and cause menstrual disorders. If endocrine imbalance occurs, it is recommended to cooperate with Chinese herbal medicine for conditioning.

Malnutrition often occurs in economically developed countries due to the lack of adequate nutrients to maintain healthy body functions. However, malnutrition caused by improper dieting, overeating or an unbalanced diet is often observed in economically developed countries (as evidenced by increased levels of obesity).

Common malnutrition includes protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and macronutrient malnutrition. Protein-energy malnutrition indicates that the available or absorbed amount of energy and protein in the human body is insufficient at birth. Micronutrient malnutrition indicates insufficient availability of some essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals that are required in small but essential amounts in the body.

Deficiencies of certain nutrients can cause a variety of symptoms and impair the normal functions of the human body. Lack of nutrients such as vitamin D can reduce the body's ability to fight disease. The widespread prevalence of iron, iodine and vitamin D deficiencies poses a serious challenge to public health. A long list of painful symptoms, ranging from arrested growth, reduced IQ and various thinking abilities, reduced communication skills, reduced leadership and determination, reduced motivation and energy, reduced muscle growth and strength, and more extreme health problems, all directly relate to nutritional deficiencies. And, although rare, malnutrition can cause dark spots to appear on the skin.

Causes

1. Poor feeding

Chronic insufficient food intake, such as insufficient breast milk and inability to add complementary foods early. For those who are fed with formula milk, the quality and quantity of food cannot meet the needs, such as excessive dilution of milk, or simply feeding with starchy food. After sudden weaning, the baby cannot adapt to new foods, etc.

2. Poor diet structure

Irregular eating habits, picky eating, rumination habits or nausea, etc.

3. Symptom elements

The disease affects appetite, hinders the digestion, absorption and utilization of food, and increases the body's consumption. Common diseases that may cause malnutrition include transitional infantile diarrhea, chronic colitis or dysentery, malabsorption syndrome caused by various enzyme deficiencies, intestinal parasitic infections, tuberculosis, measles, recurrent respiratory infections, chronic urinary tract infections, etc. Some digestive malformations (such as cleft lip and palate, cleft palate, congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis or cardia relaxation, etc.) and severe congenital heart disease can lead to feeding difficulties. Some genetic metabolic disorders and immunodeficiency diseases can also affect the digestion, absorption and utilization of food.

Premature babies and twins are prone to malnutrition, intrauterine infection, maternal illness or poor nutrition, and abnormalities in the structure and function of the embryo and fetal umbilical cord can all lead to insufficient fetal nutrition and intrauterine growth retardation, which are the prerequisites for malnutrition of the baby.

Moderate and severe malnutrition is mostly caused by a variety of factors.