Vitamins Deficiencies and Your Health
Vitamins are of vital importance in maintaining human health. Deficiencies of most of the vitamins will result in corresponding diseases. A deficiency of vitamin A can cause retarded skeletal growth, night blindness, various abnormalities of the skin and linings of the genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract. Thiamin deficiency can lead to muscular weakness, leg cramps, slow heartbeat, irritability, defective hydrochloric acid production in the stomach and consequent digestive disorders.
Riboflavin deficiency can cause inflamed tongue, inflammation and ulcers in the mouth, Dandruff, weakness, abnormal blood vessel growth on the sclerae, and low blood counts. A niacin deficiency often leads to a chronic illness called pellagra. Vitamin B5 deficiency causes depression, personality changes, and heart problems. Vitamin B6 deficiency can cause impaired immunity, skin lesions, and mental confusion.
A deficiency of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency can cause pernicious anemia. An inositol deficiency could be a contributing cause of abnormal platelet aggregation, and alcoholism. Patients with systemic carnitine deficiency have a progressive neuromuscular disorder with nausea and vomiting. A deficiency in PABA may cause fatigue, irritability, depression, nervousness, headache, constipation and other digestive disorders.
A lack of vitamin C leads eventually to scurvy. In children, vitamin D deficiency is called rickets. Vitamin E deficiency affects the central nervous system and causes muscle weakness, loss of muscle mass, abnormal eye movements, impaired vision, and unsteady gait. Biotin deficiency results in fatigue, depression, nausea, muscle pains, hair loss, and anemia. Symptoms of vitamin K deficiency include easy bruisability, epistaxis, gastrointestinal bleeding, menorrhagia and hematuria. Folic acid deficiency during pregnancy increases the risk for neural tube defects.
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Informational note: The data presented on our health and nutrition website is for educational purposes only. Though we stive to be accurate in all of the information we present, it should not be taken as medical advice. NSC always recommends consulting your physician before beginning or modifying any diet or exercise program.
