ABSTRACT
The effect of nutritional intake on men’s health can be divided into three dimensions. First, food is essential to life. Good health is dependent on an adequate intake of energy and protein, and dietary sources of essential vitamins and minerals. Absence of essential nutrients can lead to primary disease (malnutrition syndromes). Second, nutritional intake has been associated with the risk of developing future disease. Good nutritional health has been linked to the prevention of premature mortality (lengthening lifespan) and to prevention of the development of chronic conditions (burden of disease). Finally, disease itself impacts nutritional
health. A variety of diseases affect both nutritional intake (anorexia) and nutritional status (cachexia).
