Imbalance of constituents of food intake

This code signifies a nutritional deficiency or excess resulting from an inappropriate balance of macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, proteins) or micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) in the diet. It indicates that the patient's dietary intake is disproportionate, leading to potential health issues. This imbalance is not due to insufficient overall intake (undernutrition) or excessive overall intake (overnutrition), but rather a qualitative problem with the diet composition.

Use this code when documentation specifies an imbalance in the types of food consumed, such as a diet high in saturated fats and low in fiber, or an excess of certain vitamins/minerals and a deficiency in others. This code is appropriate when the patient's total caloric intake may be adequate, but the nutritional quality is poor. Supporting documentation would include dietary assessments, nutritional counseling notes, or physician statements indicating a qualitative dietary imbalance.

• Do not use this code for general malnutrition (E40-E46) or overnutrition (E66.-) unless a specific qualitative imbalance is also documented.
• Consider sequencing this code after a more specific nutritional deficiency (e.g., E55.0 for Vitamin D deficiency) if the imbalance is the underlying cause.
• Ensure documentation clearly distinguishes between an imbalance of constituents and simple under/overeating.