Nutrient deficiencies are less common in the United States, but they are not completely wiped out. Nutrient deficiencies are typically based in third world countries where food, water, and medicine are harder to obtain. Nutrient deficiencies means the sufferer is not getting a proper diet or their bodies are not breaking down the nutrients it gets. In the United States the typical nutrient deficiencies are based on medical diseases a person might have. For example the body will digest food and take nutrients from what we eat. If our bodies cannot break down the food and absorb the nutrients we can develop nutrient deficiencies. Common deficiencies include malnutrition, scurvy, or bone disorders. Bones that become brittle may not get enough calcium or nutrients, resulting in bone loss or fractures.