What are the common signs of vitamin deficiency. How can you address them. Explore the 8 most common signs of vitamin and mineral deficiencies and how to address them.

Brittle Hair and Nails: A Sign of Biotin Deficiency

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, plays a crucial role in converting food into energy. A deficiency in this vitamin, although rare, can lead to noticeable symptoms such as brittle, thinning, or splitting hair and nails. Other signs of biotin deficiency include chronic fatigue, muscle pain, cramps, and tingling in the hands and feet. Certain groups, like pregnant women, heavy smokers or drinkers, and people with digestive disorders, are at a higher risk of developing biotin deficiency. To address this, you can incorporate biotin-rich foods like egg yolks, organ meats, fish, meat, dairy, nuts, seeds, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, yeast, whole grains, and bananas into your diet.

Mouth Ulcers and Angular Cheilitis: Linked to Nutrient Deficiencies

Lesions in and around the mouth can be linked to insufficient intake of certain vitamins or minerals. Mouth ulcers, or canker sores, are often the result of deficiencies in iron or B vitamins. Studies have found that patients with mouth ulcers are twice as likely to have low iron levels and may also have deficiencies in thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and pyridoxine (vitamin B6). Angular cheilitis, a condition that causes the corners of the mouth to crack, split, or bleed, can also be caused by a lack of iron and B vitamins, particularly riboflavin. To address these issues, you can increase your intake of iron-rich foods like poultry, meat, fish, legumes, dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, as well as foods rich in B vitamins such as whole grains, poultry, meat, fish, eggs, dairy, organ meats, legumes, green vegetables, starchy vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

Bleeding Gums: A Sign of Vitamin C Deficiency

Bleeding gums can be a sign of a vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C plays a crucial role in wound healing and immunity, and it also acts as an antioxidant, helping prevent cell damage. Since the body does not produce vitamin C on its own, the only way to maintain adequate levels is through diet. Vitamin C deficiencies are relatively rare in individuals who consume enough fresh fruits and vegetables, but many people still fail to eat enough of these foods. Consuming very little vitamin C through the diet for long periods can lead to symptoms of deficiency, including bleeding gums and even tooth loss. To address this, make sure to consume at least 2 pieces of fruit and 3-4 portions of vegetables each day to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin C.

Hair Loss: A Potential Sign of Zinc Deficiency

Hair loss can be a sign of a zinc deficiency. Zinc is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in hair growth and maintenance. It helps with cell division and protein synthesis, both of which are necessary for healthy hair. A lack of zinc can lead to thinning hair, bald patches, and even complete hair loss. Certain groups, such as vegetarians, pregnant women, and the elderly, are at a higher risk of developing a zinc deficiency. To address this, you can increase your intake of zinc-rich foods like meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy, beans, nuts, and seeds.

Dry, Scaly Skin: A Potential Sign of Vitamin A Deficiency

Dry, scaly skin can be a sign of a vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy skin, as it helps with cell growth and differentiation. A lack of vitamin A can lead to dry, flaky skin, as well as other skin-related issues like acne and eczema. Certain groups, such as those with liver disease or malabsorption disorders, are at a higher risk of developing a vitamin A deficiency. To address this, you can increase your intake of vitamin A-rich foods like leafy green vegetables, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and animal-based proteins.

Night Blindness: A Potential Sign of Vitamin A Deficiency

Night blindness, or difficulty seeing in low light, can be a sign of a vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy vision, as it helps with the production of rhodopsin, a pigment that allows the eyes to adapt to low light conditions. A lack of vitamin A can lead to impaired night vision and, in severe cases, complete blindness. Certain groups, such as those with malabsorption disorders or who consume a diet low in vitamin A, are at a higher risk of developing this deficiency. To address this, you can increase your intake of vitamin A-rich foods like leafy green vegetables, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and animal-based proteins.

Frequent Infections: A Potential Sign of Vitamin C or Zinc Deficiency

Frequent infections can be a sign of a deficiency in vitamin C or zinc. Vitamin C plays a crucial role in supporting the immune system, as it helps with the production of white blood cells and the function of certain immune cells. Zinc is also essential for immune function, as it helps with the development and function of immune cells. A lack of either of these nutrients can make you more susceptible to infections. To address this, you can increase your intake of vitamin C-rich foods like citrus fruits, bell peppers, broccoli, and strawberries, as well as zinc-rich foods like meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy, beans, nuts, and seeds.

8 Common Signs of Vitamin Deficiency, Plus How to Address Them

Symptoms of vitamin deficiency include brittle hair and nails, mouth ulcers, hair loss, scaly skin patches, and more. Recognizing these signs can help you adjust your diet accordingly.

A well-balanced and nutritious diet has many benefits. On the other hand, a diet lacking in nutrients may cause various unpleasant symptoms.

These symptoms are your body’s way of communicating potential vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

This article reviews the 8 most common signs of vitamin and mineral deficiencies and how to address them.

A variety of factors may cause brittle hair and nails. One of them is a lack of biotin.

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, helps the body convert food into energy. A deficiency in biotin is very rare, but when it occurs, brittle, thinning, or splitting hair and nails are some of the most noticeable symptoms.

Other symptoms of biotin deficiency include chronic fatigue, muscle pain, cramps, and tingling in the hands and feet (1).

Pregnant women, heavy smokers or drinkers, and people with digestive disorders like Crohn’s disease are at the greatest risk of developing biotin deficiency.

Also, the prolonged use of antibiotics and some anti-seizure medications is a risk factor (2).

Eating raw egg whites may cause biotin deficiency as well. That’s because raw egg whites contain avidin, a protein that binds to biotin and can reduce its absorption (1, 3, 4).

Foods rich in biotin include egg yolks, organ meats, fish, meat, dairy, nuts, seeds, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, yeast, whole grains, and bananas (5, 6).

Adults with brittle hair or nails might consider trying a supplement that provides about 30 micrograms of biotin per day.

However, only a few small studies and case reports have observed the benefits of supplementing with biotin, so a biotin-rich diet may be the best choice (7, 8, 9).

Summary Biotin is a B vitamin involved in many body functions. It plays an
important role in strengthening hair and nails. A deficiency in this vitamin is
generally rare but may occur in certain cases.

Lesions in and around the mouth may partly be linked to an insufficient intake of certain vitamins or minerals.

For instance, mouth ulcers, also commonly referred to as canker sores, are often the result of deficiencies in iron or B vitamins.

One small study notes that patients with mouth ulcers appear to be twice as likely to have low iron levels (10).

In another small study, around 28% of patients with mouth ulcers had deficiencies in thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and pyridoxine (vitamin B6) (11).

Angular cheilitis, a condition that causes the corners of the mouth to crack, split, or bleed, can be caused by excess salivation or dehydration. However, it may also be caused by an insufficient intake of iron and B vitamins, particularly riboflavin (10, 11, 12, 13).

Foods rich in iron include poultry, meat, fish, legumes, dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains (14).

Good sources of thiamine, riboflavin, and pyridoxine include whole grains, poultry, meat, fish, eggs, dairy, organ meats, legumes, green vegetables, starchy vegetables, nuts, and seeds (15, 16, 17).

If you experience these symptoms, try adding the foods above to your diet to see if your symptoms improve.

Summary People with mouth ulcers or cracks at the corners of the mouth may
want to try consuming more foods rich in thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and
iron to alleviate symptoms.

Sometimes a rough tooth brushing technique is at the root of bleeding gums, but a diet lacking in vitamin C can also be to blame.

Vitamin C plays an important role in wound healing and immunity, and it even acts as an antioxidant, helping prevent cell damage.

Your body does not make vitamin C on its own, so the only way to maintain adequate levels of it is through diet (18, 19, 20).

Vitamin C deficiencies are rare in individuals who consume enough fresh fruits and vegetables. That said, many people fail to eat enough fruits and vegetables each day.

This may explain why studies performing routine screenings of healthy populations estimate low vitamin C levels in 13–30% of the population, with 5–17% of people being deficient (21).

Consuming very little vitamin C through the diet for long periods can bring on symptoms of deficiency, including bleeding gums and even tooth loss (21, 22, 23).

Another serious consequence of severe vitamin C deficiency is scurvy, which depresses the immune system, weakens muscles and bones, and makes people feel fatigued and lethargic (24).

Other common signs of vitamin C deficiency include easy bruising, slow wound healing, dry scaly skin, and frequent nosebleeds (22, 24).

Make sure to consume enough vitamin C by eating at least 2 pieces of fruit and 3–4 portions of vegetables each day.

Summary People who eat few fresh fruits and vegetables may develop vitamin C
deficiency. This can lead to unpleasant symptoms like bleeding gums, a weakened
immune system, and, in severe cases, tooth loss and scurvy.

A nutrient-poor diet can sometimes cause vision problems.

For instance, low intakes of vitamin A are often linked to a condition known as night blindness, which reduces people’s ability to see in low light or darkness.

That’s because vitamin A is necessary to produce rhodopsin, a pigment found in the retinas of the eyes that helps you see at night.

When left untreated, night blindness can progress to xerophthalmia, a condition that can damage the cornea and ultimately lead to blindness (25).

Another early symptom of xerophthalmia is Bitot’s spots, which are slightly elevated, foamy, white growths that occur on the conjunctiva or white part of the eyes.

The growths can be removed to a certain extent but only fully disappear once the vitamin A deficiency is treated (26).

Fortunately, vitamin A deficiency is rare in developed countries. Those who suspect their vitamin A intake is insufficient can try eating more vitamin-A-rich foods, such as organ meats, dairy, eggs, fish, dark leafy greens, and yellow-orange colored vegetables (27).

Unless diagnosed with a deficiency, most people should avoid taking vitamin A supplements. That’s because vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which, when consumed in excess, can accumulate in the body’s fat stores and become toxic.

Symptoms of vitamin A toxicity can be serious and include nausea, headaches, skin irritation, joint and bone pain, and, in severe cases, even coma or death (28).

Summary Low vitamin A intake may cause poor night vision or growths on the
white part of the eyes. Adding more vitamin-A-rich foods to your diet can help
you avoid or reduce these symptoms.

Seborrheic dermatitis (SB) and dandruff are part of the same group of skin disorders that affects the oil-producing areas of your body.

Both involve itchy, flaking skin. Dandruff is mostly restricted to the scalp, whereas seborrheic dermatitis can also appear on the face, upper chest, armpits, and groin.

The likelihood of these skin disorders is highest within the first 3 months of life, during puberty, and in mid-adulthood.

Studies show that both conditions are also very common. Up to 42% of infants and 50% of adults may suffer from dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis at one point or another (29, 30).

Dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis may be caused by many factors, with a nutrient-poor diet being one of them. For instance, low blood levels of zinc, niacin (vitamin B3), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and pyridoxine (vitamin B6) may each play a role (13, 29, 31).

While the link between a nutrient-poor diet and these skin conditions is not fully understood, people with dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis might want to consume more of these nutrients.

Foods rich in niacin, riboflavin, and pyridoxine include whole grains, poultry, meat, fish, eggs, dairy, organ meats, legumes, green vegetables, starchy vegetables, nuts, and seeds (15, 16, 17).

Seafood, meat, legumes, dairy, nuts, and whole grains are all good sources of zinc (32).

Summary Stubborn dandruff and scaly patches on the scalp, eyebrows, ears,
eyelids, and chest may be caused by low intake of zinc, niacin, riboflavin, and
pyridoxine. Adding these nutrients to the diet may help reduce symptoms.

Hair loss is a very common symptom. In fact, up to 50% of adults report hair loss by the time they reach 50 years of age (33).

A diet rich in the following nutrients may help prevent or slow hair loss (34).

• Iron. This mineral is
  involved in DNA synthesis, including that of the DNA present in hair
  follicles. Too little iron can cause hair to stop growing or fall out (35, 36, 37).
• Zinc. This mineral is
  essential for protein synthesis and cell division, two processes needed
  for hair growth. As such, zinc deficiency may cause hair loss (38, 39, 40).
• Linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic
  acid (ALA).
  These essential fatty acids are required for hair growth and maintenance (34).
• Niacin (vitamin B3). This vitamin is
  necessary for keeping hair healthy. Alopecia, a condition in which hair
  falls out in small patches, is one possible symptom of niacin deficiency (41, 42).
• Biotin (vitamin B7). Biotin is another B
  vitamin that, when deficient, may be linked to hair loss (34, 43).

Meat, fish, eggs, legumes, dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good sources of iron and zinc.

Niacin-rich foods include meat, fish, dairy, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and leafy greens. These foods are also rich in biotin, which is also found in egg yolks and organ meat.

Leafy vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and vegetable oils are rich in LA, while walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and soy nuts are rich in ALA.

Many supplements claim to prevent hair loss. Many of them contain a combination of the nutrients above, in addition to several others.

These supplements appear to boost hair growth and reduce hair loss in people with documented deficiencies in the aforementioned nutrients. However, there is very limited research on the benefits of such supplements in the absence of a deficiency.

It’s also worth noting that taking vitamin and mineral supplements in the absence of a deficiency may worsen hair loss, rather than help it (44).

For instance, excess selenium and vitamin A, two nutrients often added to hair growth supplements, have both been linked to hair loss (34).

Unless your healthcare provider confirms a deficiency, it’s best to opt for diets rich in these nutrients, rather than supplements.

Summary The vitamins and minerals mentioned above are needed for hair growth,
so diets rich in them may help prevent hair loss. However, the use of
supplements — except in cases of deficiency — may cause more harm than good.

Keratosis pilaris is a condition that causes goosebump-like bumps to appear on the cheeks, arms, thighs, or buttocks. These little bumps may also be accompanied by corkscrew or ingrown hairs.

The condition often appears in childhood and naturally disappears in adulthood.

The cause of these little bumps is still not fully understood, but they may appear when too much keratin is produced in hair follicles. This produces red or white elevated bumps on the skin (45).

Keratosis pilaris may have a genetic component, meaning that a person is more likely to have it if a family member has it. That said, it has also been observed in people with diets low in vitamins A and C (22, 28).

Thus, in addition to traditional treatments with medicated creams, people with this condition may consider adding foods rich in vitamins A and C to their diet.

These include organ meats, dairy, eggs, fish, dark leafy greens, yellow-orange colored vegetables, and fruit (24, 27).

Summary Inadequate intake of vitamins A and C may be linked to keratosis
pilaris, a condition that leads to the appearance of red or white bumps on the
skin.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a nerve condition that causes unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations in the legs, as well as an irresistible urge to move them (46).

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, RLS affects up to 10% of Americans, with women twice as likely to experience the condition. For most people, the urge to move seems to intensify when they’re relaxing or trying to sleep.

While the exact causes of RLS are not fully understood, there appears to be a link between symptoms of RLS and a person’s blood iron levels.

For instance, several studies link low blood iron stores to an increased severity of RLS symptoms. Several studies also note that symptoms often appear during pregnancy, a time during which women’s iron levels tend to drop (47, 48, 49, 50).

Supplementing with iron generally helps decrease RLS symptoms, especially in people with a diagnosed iron deficiency. However, the effects of supplementation may vary from person to person (51, 52, 53, 54).

Since higher iron intakes appear to reduce symptoms, increasing the intake of iron-rich foods, such as meat, poultry, fish, legumes, dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, may also be beneficial (14).

It may be especially handy to combine these iron-rich foods with vitamin-C-rich fruits and vegetables, as these can help increase iron absorption (55).

Using cast-iron pots and pans and avoiding tea or coffee at meals can also help boost iron absorption.

Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that unnecessary supplementation can do more harm than good and may reduce the absorption of other nutrients (56).

Extremely high iron levels can even be fatal in some cases, so it’s best to consult your healthcare provider before taking supplements (57).

Finally, some evidence suggests that magnesium insufficiency may play a role in restless leg syndrome (58).

Summary Restless leg syndrome is often linked to low iron levels. Those with
this condition may want to increase their intake of iron-rich foods and discuss
supplementation with their healthcare provider.

A diet that provides an insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals can cause several symptoms, some of which are more common than others.

Often, increasing your intake of foods rich in the appropriate vitamins and minerals can help resolve or greatly reduce your symptoms.

Download our Essential Vitamin Guide

Deficiency Symptoms and Signs

Symptom or Sign	Possible Nutritional Deficiency	Other Possible Causes
General Symptoms and Appearance
Fatigue	Protein-energy, iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamins B1, B12 and other B vitamins and vitamin C	Many physical illnesses including hypothyroidism, cardiac failure, anaemia, chronic fatigue syndrome and depression
Loss of appetite	Zinc	Many chronic illnesses
Pica eating non-nutritive substances	General malnutrition and possibly iron, calcium, zinc, vitamins B1 – thiamine, B3 – niacin, C and D	Normal in infants under 2 years of age, pregnancy especially in young women, mental illness
Loss of taste	Zinc	Common cold, many nasal disorders
Cold intolerance	Iron	Hypothyroidism, anaemia and reduced cardiac output
Pale appearance due to anaemia	Iron, folate and vitamin B12	Excessive bleeding and haematological disorders
Carotenoderma – yellow discolouration of the skin noticeable on the face and trunk	Protein-energy and zinc	Dietary carotenoid excess especially in women, hypothyroidism
Diffuse hyperpigmentation	Protein-energy	Addison’s disease and  haemochromatosis
Muscle wasting e. g. clothes appear too big, loss of limb musculature	Protein-energy
Loss of height and excessive curvature of the spine	Calcium and vitamin D	Increasing age and disease- related osteoporosis
Skin
Itchy skin – pruritus	Iron	Many skin diseases, liver disease
Dry skin	Essential Fatty Acids or multiple nutritional deficiencies	Old age, skin conditions e. g. eczema
Red scaly skin in light-exposed areas	Vitamin B3	Excessive sun-exposure in red/fair haired individuals light-exposed areas
Excessive bruising	Vitamin C	Old age, trauma and blood disorders
Haemorrhage or redness around hair follicles	Vitamin C
Bleeding into a joint or other unusual bleeding	Vitamin C	Various blood disorders
Plugging of hair follicles with keratin or coiled hairs	Vitamin C
Fine downy hair on torso – lanugo	Protein-energy.   Typical of Persistent anorexia nervosa
Mouth
Sore tongue	Iron, vitamin B12, B2, B3 and possibly other B vitamins	Excessively hot drinks and oral disease
Cracking and peeling of     skin on the lips	Vitamin B2 – riboflavin	Excessive exposure to cold or windy weather
Cracking at the corners of the mouth	Iron, vitamin B2 – riboflavin possibly other B vitamins	Poorly fitting dentures, eczema infection with candida albicans
Recurrent mouth ulcers	Iron, vitamin B12, folate and possibly other B vitamins	Coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease recurrent herpes and oral disease
Enlarged veins under the tongue with micro-haemorrhages	Vitamin C	Smoking and old age
Smooth, shinny and sore tongue: atrophic glossitis	Iron, vitamin B12 and folate
Head, Face and Neck
Scalp hair loss	Iron	Any scalp disease, alopecia from other causes
Dandruff	Essential fatty acids and biotin	Fungal infection of scalp
Redness at the sides of the nose	Vitamin B2 –riboflavin, vitamin B6 and zinc	Seborrhoeic dermatitis
Redness or cracking at the outer angle of the eyes	Vitamins B2 or B6
Goitre	Iodine deficiency is likely if goitre is present in > 20% of population – endemic goitre	Adolescence, pregnancy and various forms of thyroid disease
Hands and Nails
Nails – brittle or flaking	Iron        and possibly essential fatty acids	Poor circulation and old age
Nails – upturned or spoon-shaped nails	Iron	Psoriasis or other diseases of the nail bed
Carotenoderma – yellow discolouration of the skin noticeable on the palms	Protein-energy and zinc	Dietary carotenoid excess especially in women, hypothyroidism
Musculo-skeletal
Muscle pains and cramps	Magnesium, potassium, sodium, vitamin B1 and vitamin D if there is hypocalcaemia	Muscle or neurological disease, polymyalgia rheumatica and hypocalcaemia
Calf muscle pain after minimal exercise	Vitamin B1 – thiamine	Torn muscle, peripheral vascular disease and myopathy
Excessive calf muscle tenderness	Vitamin B1- thiamine	Torn muscle, thrombosis
Walking with a waddling gait	Vitamin D and resultant myopathy	Osteoarthritis of the hips or disease of the hip-girdle muscles
Difficulty getting up from a low chair or climbing the stairs or weakness of shoulder muscles	Vitamin D and resultant myopathy	Arthritis of the hips or knees, diseases of the nerves or muscles
Bowed legs	Vitamin D – rickets in childhood	Paget’s disease and syphilis
Twitching of facial muscles when tapping on the facial nerve in front of the ear: Chvostek’s sign	Calcium and vitamin D if hypocalcaemia or severe magnesium deficiency	Hypocalcaemia for other reasons e. g. hypoparathyroidism
Eyes
Poor night vision	Zinc, vitamin A and possibly vitamin B2 – riboflavin	Retinal disease
Conjunctival dryness	Vitamin A	Old age and Sjogren’s syndrome
Gastrointestinal
Diarrhoea	Vitamin B3	Irritable bowel syndrome, malabsorption, infective diarrhoea and many other causes
Constipation	Dehydration, fibre, potassium, magnesium and folate	Irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis, cancer of the colon
Neurological
Restless legs	Iron or folate	Various neurological disorders, pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis, and renal failure
Burning feet syndrome	Vitamin B2 –riboflavin	Early peripheral neuropathy
Loss of balance when standing upright with feet together and the eyes closed: Romberg’s test	Vitamin B12 and possibly vitamin B3	Many neurological disorders affecting the cerebellum, spinal chord or peripheral nerves
Loss of vibration sensation in the lower limbs	Vitamin B12 and possibly vitamin B3	Increasing age and peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy – numbness, tingling, disordered sensation, pain and or weakness in the hands or feet	Vitamins B1, B12 and possibly B3, B6 and folate and very rarely copper (following gastrointestinal surgery or excess zinc ingestion).   Relative lack of essential fatty acids.	Diabetes and many other causes
Unsteady movement or walking (cerebellar ataxia)	Vitamin B1, vitamin E and Coenzyme Q10	Alcohol, hypothyroidism and many neurological and inherited disorders
Mental State
Depression	Vitamins C, B1, B3, B6, B12, folate, biotin and possibly the essential fatty acids	Mental illness, stress and as a consequence of physical illness
Irritability	Folate	Alcoholism, deprcssion and personality disorder
Poor concentration	Iron, vitamins B1, B12, folate and possibly essential fatty acids	Depression, stress, lack of sleep, alcohol, dementia, anaemia, hypothyroidism and many other diseases
Cardio-vascular
Heart failure	Vitamin B1 – thiamin and any deficiency causing anaemia	Coronary, valvular and myocardial disease
Palpitations	Potassium and magnesium and any deficiency causing anaemia	Coronary, valvular and myocardial disease

The doctor told how to recognize a vitamin deficiency

org/BreadcrumbList”>
• INVITRO
• About the company
• Press releases
• The doctor told how…

Back to list

03/23/2022

In the spring, many people complain of increased fatigue, drowsiness, sleep disturbances and other disturbing symptoms.

They may be associated with a lack of vitamins, which is especially acute after winter. How dangerous is vitamin deficiency and what can it lead to? How to recognize a lack of vitamins? Can you take vitamins on your own? This was told by Ekaterina Terentyeva, head of the medical examination department of the Invitro group of companies.

Why does beriberi occur? Why does it occur with the change of seasons?

Avitaminosis is the almost complete absence of one or more vitamins in the human body. In developed countries, this condition practically does not occur, since even in the winter season vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc. are sold in stores. Urban residents have only a certain lack of vitamins – hypovitaminosis. It can be primary due to an unbalanced diet or starvation, and secondary due to malabsorption of vitamins against the background of various conditions (pregnancy, gastrointestinal diseases, prolonged stress, after surgery, etc.). The development of hypovitaminosis can also lead to a busy rhythm of life, snacking on the go or eating dry food.

In spring, various types of vitamin deficiency are especially common: in winter, the body does not receive enough vitamins and microelements from food. In vegetables and fruits stored during the winter, the content of essential vitamins is sharply reduced. Another reason for the development of hypovitaminosis is the consumption of a large amount of canned foods, as well as foods that have undergone prolonged heat treatment. The severity and prevalence of various types of hypovitaminosis depends on the region and season.

What are the symptoms of hypovitaminosis?

Each type has specific signs, and the severity of symptoms depends on the degree of vitamin deficiency. Common symptoms can be distinguished: increased fatigue or weakness, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, functions of the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, and others.

Manifestations of hypovitaminosis:

• vitamin A deficiency : impaired eye adaptation to darkness, dry eyes; drying, peeling and thickening of the skin; decrease in the body’s immune defenses. Children may experience a delay in physical and intellectual development, frequent infectious diseases;
• thiamine deficiency – vitamin B1 : irritability, fatigue, sleep disturbance, concentration, bowel function, damage to peripheral nerves (polyneuritis), cardiovascular system;
• lack of riboflavin – vitamin B2 for adults and children: pallor of the skin, painful cracks in the corners of the lips, redness of the eyes, blurred vision in bright light, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, tongue;
• lack of vitamin B3 (vitamin PP, niacin) in adults and children: weakness, fatigue, impaired sensitivity of the limbs, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, bright red tongue, susceptibility to infectious diseases;
• lack of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid): irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbance, palpitations on exertion, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, muscle weakness. In children in the first half of life, diaper rash, dry skin, maceration and pustular diseases occur. In older children, dizziness, weakness, headaches, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, flatulence are noted;
• lack of vitamin B6 : irritability, muscle weakness, lethargy, seborrheic changes in various areas of the skin, dysfunction of the central nervous system. Rarely, a deficiency causes seizures, especially in infants. Adults may also experience depression and confusion.
• lack of cyanocobalamin – vitamin B12 : general weakness, fatigue, pallor, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, tinnitus, children are characterized by a slowdown in the development of anorexia, weight loss, decreased gastric secretion, development of atrophic gastritis;
• lack of vitamin C: general weakness, fatigue, irritability, bleeding gums, long wound healing, muscle and joint pain, frequent colds. In children, there may also be a violation of bone growth, a slowdown in the development of the bone skeleton;
• vitamin D deficiency: weakness, decreased appetite, mood swings, bone pain, brittle bones, fractures, muscle weakness, frequent infections. Children have irritability, delayed development (later they begin to walk), decreased appetite, delayed teething, and pathology of tooth enamel;
• vitamin K deficiency: ease of hematoma formation, bleeding of mucous membranes (especially epistaxis, gastrointestinal bleeding) in adults and children;
• With vitamin P deficiency (rutin): general weakness, fatigue, bleeding gums, petechial hemorrhages, pain in the shoulders and legs in adults and children;
• lack of folic acid ( vitamin B9 ): pallor of the skin and mucous membranes with a slight icteric tint, general weakness, decreased performance, fatigue, irritability, shortness of breath occurs, heart rate increases, blood pressure may decrease. Patients complain of poor appetite, tinnitus and flashing “flies” before their eyes. Infants and young children are also characterized by lethargy or irritability.

What can hypovitaminosis lead to? To what diseases?

Long-term hypovitaminosis and non-replenishment of vitamin reserves can cause the development of beriberi – a severe form of vitamin deficiency that develops with a long-term absence of vitamins in the incoming food or a violation of their absorption.

For example, with a prolonged lack of vitamin A, softening and loss of transparency of the membrane of the eye develops, the formation of a thorn, and, as a result, complete loss of vision. With vitamin B1 deficiency, beriberi disease develops – it manifests itself in the form of peripheral neurological disorders. With a long-term absence of vitamin B2, hematopoietic disorders (hypochromic anemia) and the nervous system occur.

Therefore, it is important not to postpone a visit to the doctor if you have anxiety symptoms.

What should I do if I have hypovitaminosis symptoms?

Symptoms of severe hypovitaminosis are quite specific, which allows the doctor to assume a deficiency of one or another vitamin and prescribe appropriate laboratory tests. The doctor draws conclusions based on the patient’s history, clinical picture, and examination results. What tests to take for a patient are determined by a specialist, but there is a list of laboratory tests that are prescribed first of all if hypovitaminosis is suspected. This can be a general blood test, determination of the level of vitamin (s) and minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus) in the blood serum, a biochemical blood test, and so on. Therapeutic doses of vitamins can be prescribed only by a doctor if indicated. Uncontrolled intake of vitamin preparations can cause unpleasant side effects.

Signs of vitamin deficiency

Even if you live a healthy lifestyle and maintain a balanced diet, the body may lack certain trace elements and biologically active substances. It is very important for a modern person to follow a balanced diet – the products of today’s diet leave little chance to provide the body with vitamins and other useful substances in full. So, for example, plucked tomatoes or bananas do not immediately get to our table. In order to bring us vegetables and fruits from distant countries of a “commodity” type, they are plucked green. Accordingly, such products do not have time to accumulate a sufficient amount of useful substances. Refining products or their heat treatment also significantly reduce the presence of useful substances in them.

Speaking of vitamin deficiency, it cannot be said that the body lacks any one vitamin. As a rule, there is a shortage of a group of useful substances. For example, if your diet is low in plant foods, your body may be deficient in vitamins B and C. And if you refuse animal products, then your body may experience a lack of vitamins A, D and E.

Vitamin deficiency can sometimes be determined independently. For example, disadvantage vitamin A (retinol) is characterized by dry skin, brittle hair, the appearance of transverse stripes on the nails, eye disease, night blindness (decreased vision in the dark), gastritis, diarrhea, and in children, a slowdown in physical and intellectual development.

Lack of vitamin E (tocopherol) may indicate increased permeability and fragility of capillaries, muscle weakness, anemia.

Deficiency of vitamin D (calciferol) can manifest itself in convulsions, impaired psychomotor reactions, a tendency to bone fractures and their slow fusion. Vitamin D deficiency in childhood can lead to rickets. In this disease, bone formation is disturbed and skeletal deformity occurs.

If you have general weakness, fatigue, frequent colds, bleeding gums and poor healing of wounds and cuts, you may be deficient in vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

Deficiency of vitamin B1 (thiamine) is indicated by irritability, loss of appetite and sleep, muscle weakness, mental changes.

Characteristic signs of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency may be cracks in the lips and corners of the mouth, a feeling of “sand in the eyes”, photophobia, impaired perception of various colors. Vitamin deficiency can cause anemia.

Due to the lack of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) , skin peeling, graying and hair loss, weakness, loss of strength appear. Gastrointestinal disorders may also appear.

Seek medical advice if these symptoms occur. Be attentive to the state of your health and always pay attention to even minor manifestations of deviations from the norm.