definition of deficiency diseases
deficiency disease - any disease caused by a lack of an essential nutrient (as a vitamin or mineral) disease - an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning. malnutrition - a state of poor nutrition; can result from insufficient or excessive or unbalanced diet or from inability to absorb foods. zinc deficiency - a deficiency caused by inadequate zinc in the diet or by liver disease or cystic fibrosis or other diseases.