deficiency

(dih-FIH-shun-see) In medicine, a shortage of a substance (such as a vitamin or mineral) needed by the body.

an inadequacy or lacking in some necessary defined quality or element. Deficiencies include but not limited to missing data, incomplete data, or incomplete reports.

Lack of adequate supply of nutritional, enzymatic, or environmental requirements, so that development, growth or physiological functions are affected.