What condition results from nutrient deficiencies and is characterized by a reduced number of red blood cells?

The condition characterized by a reduced number of red blood cells due to nutrient deficiencies is anemia. Anemia occurs when the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the tissues, which can lead to fatigue, weakness, and various other health issues. This deficiency can be caused by a variety of nutritional factors, most commonly iron deficiency, but also deficiencies in vitamin B12 and folate can contribute to its development.

In contrast, dehydration primarily refers to the loss of water and electrolytes from the body, and does not inherently affect red blood cell count directly. Scurvy is a condition resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C, leading to symptoms such as weakness, anemia, and skin problems but is not characterized by solely a reduction in red blood cells. Deficiency syndrome is a broader term that does not specify a single condition and can refer to instances caused by a lack of various essential nutrients, rather than the specific issue of red blood cell count as seen in anemia. Thus, anemia is the most accurate term for the condition described.