puutos

Puutos is a Finnish noun meaning lack, deficiency, or shortage of a thing. It denotes an insufficient amount, quality, or presence relative to a requirement. The term is derived from puuttua, “to be missing,” and is used in many formal and technical registers, including medicine, nutrition, ecology, and economics.

In health and nutrition, puutos describes a state where the body lacks enough of a nutrient to maintain normal function. Examples include raudan puutos (iron deficiency) and D-vitamiinin puutos (vitamin D deficiency). Puutostilat can manifest as anemia, bone disorders, or impaired immune function, depending on the nutrient. Clinical guidelines often specify laboratory thresholds or clinical criteria for diagnosing puutos.

In agriculture and ecology, puutos refers to a deficiency of nutrients or resources that limit growth and productivity. Ravinnepuutos in soil can cause chlorosis, stunted growth, or poor yields. Fertilization and soil management aim to prevent or correct these puutostilat.

In economics and industry, puutos can describe shortages of goods, materials, or energy that disrupt production or distribution. Measuring puutos involves supply-demand analysis, stock levels, and lead times.

Alternative terms include puute, puutteellisuus, and puutteet, which emphasize shortcomings or incompleteness rather than a specific lack of a nutrient or resource. Puutos is generally used in neutral, descriptive contexts, avoiding value judgments.