Which statement correctly defines Secondary Deficiency?

• A. Primary Deficiency
• B. Secondary Deficiency
• C. Malnutrition
• D. Undernutrition

Answer: (B)

Secondary deficiency happens when you’re getting enough of a nutrient in your diet, but illness or other physiological factors prevent proper absorption, utilization, or increase losses, so a deficiency still develops. This is different from a primary deficiency, where the problem is simply not getting enough of the nutrient in the first place. Malnutrition is a broad term for poor nutrition in general, and undernutrition specifically refers to inadequate intake or absorption, not to adequate intake being undermined by a medical issue. An example is iron deficiency that arises because of malabsorption from a condition like celiac disease, despite adequate dietary iron.