Published on: January 16, 2024

VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES

VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES

  1. Vitamin A Deficiency:
    • Causes:
      • Insufficient intake of vitamin A-rich foods.
      • Malabsorption issues.
    • Symptoms:
      • Night blindness, dry eyes, and increased susceptibility to infections.
    • Treatment:
      • Increased consumption of vitamin A-rich foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens.
      • Vitamin A supplements may be prescribed in severe cases.
  2. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) Deficiency (Beriberi):
    • Causes:
      • Refined carbohydrate-heavy diets.
      • Alcoholism.
    • Symptoms:
      • Fatigue, muscle weakness, nerve damage, and cardiovascular issues.
    • Treatment:
      • Dietary changes to include thiamine-rich foods like whole grains, nuts, and pork.
      • Thiamine supplements may be necessary in severe cases.
  3. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Deficiency (Ariboflavinosis):
    • Causes:
      • Poor diet lacking dairy products, lean meats, and green vegetables.
    • Symptoms:
      • Sore throat, redness and swelling of the lining of the mouth and throat, and inflammation of the tongue.
    • Treatment:
      • Increased intake of riboflavin-rich foods.
      • Riboflavin supplements may be recommended in severe cases.
  4. Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Deficiency (Pellagra):
    • Causes:
      • Insufficient niacin intake from foods like meat, fish, and nuts.
      • Malabsorption issues.
    • Symptoms:
      • Dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and, if untreated, death.
    • Treatment:
      • Increased consumption of niacin-rich foods.
      • Niacin supplements may be prescribed in severe cases.
  5. Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) Deficiency:
    • Causes:
      • Rare, as pantothenic acid is present in a wide variety of foods.
    • Symptoms:
      • Fatigue, irritability, and neurological symptoms.
    • Treatment:
      • Dietary changes to include pantothenic acid-rich foods like meat, legumes, and whole grains.
      • Pantothenic acid supplements are rarely necessary.
  6. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) Deficiency:
    • Causes:
      • Poor diet, alcoholism, certain medications.
      • Malabsorption issues.
    • Symptoms:
      • Anemia, dermatitis, and neurological issues.
    • Treatment:
      • Increased consumption of vitamin B6-rich foods.
      • Vitamin B6 supplements may be prescribed in severe cases.
  7. Vitamin B7 (Biotin) Deficiency:
    • Causes:
      • Rare, as biotin is found in many foods.
    • Symptoms:
      • Hair loss, skin rash, and neurological symptoms.
    • Treatment:
      • Biotin-rich foods like eggs, nuts, and fish.
      • Biotin supplements may be recommended in rare cases.
  8. Vitamin B9 (Folate) Deficiency:
    • Causes:
      • Inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption issues, alcoholism.
    • Symptoms:
      • Megaloblastic anemia, birth defects in pregnant women.
    • Treatment:
      • Increased consumption of folate-rich foods like leafy greens, legumes, and fortified cereals.
      • Folate supplements, especially during pregnancy.
  9. Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) Deficiency:
    • Causes:
      • Inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption issues, pernicious anemia.
  • Symptoms:
    • Fatigue, weakness, anemia, neurological issues.
  • Treatment:
    • Increased consumption of vitamin B12-rich foods like meat, fish, and dairy.
    • Vitamin B12 supplements, and in severe cases, B12 injections.
  1. Vitamin C Deficiency (Scurvy):
    • Causes:
      • Inadequate intake of vitamin C from fruits and vegetables.
    • Symptoms:
      • Fatigue, swollen and bleeding gums, joint pain, anemia.
    • Treatment:
      • Increased consumption of vitamin C-rich foods like citrus fruits, strawberries, and bell peppers.
      • Vitamin C supplements may be recommended.
  2. Vitamin D Deficiency:
    • Causes:
      • Inadequate sun exposure, limited dietary intake, malabsorption issues.
    • Symptoms:
      • Weak bones, increased risk of fractures, fatigue, muscle weakness.
    • Treatment:
      • Increased exposure to sunlight.
      • Vitamin D-rich foods like fatty fish, fortified dairy products, and supplements if necessary.
  3. Vitamin E Deficiency:
    • Causes:
      • Rare, as vitamin E is found in many foods.
    • Symptoms:
      • Neuromuscular issues, weakened immune function.
    • Treatment:
      • Increased consumption of vitamin E-rich foods like nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils.
      • Vitamin E supplements may be prescribed in certain cases.
  4. Vitamin K Deficiency:
    • Causes:
      • Inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption issues, certain medications.
    • Symptoms:
      • Increased bleeding, bruising, and impaired blood clotting.
    • Treatment:
      • Increased consumption of vitamin K-rich foods like leafy greens, broccoli, and soybean oil.
      • Vitamin K supplements may be recommended in certain cases