Vitamins are a group of substances that are needed for normal cell function, growth, and development.
Vitamins help the body grow and ensure its systems function correctly. However, inadequate intake or the ability of the body to absorb vitamins may lead to a deficiency. This can result in a host of symptoms that vary in severity.
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What is vitamin deficiency?
A vitamin deficiency is not having enough of a nutrient that your body needs. That shortage can make body systems malfunction. Vitamin deficiencies usually happen because of something you’re not eating.
There are many reasons why you might still have a vitamin deficiency even if you eat a variety of healthy foods. When they happen, vitamin deficiencies can cause serious, permanent or even deadly complications.
Types of Essential vitamins
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin D
- Thiamine
- Riboflavin
- Thiacin
Symptoms of vitamins deficiency
- Changes of Skin, hair and nail : Rashes and many types of dermatitis can happen with deficiencies of vitamins A, B2, B3 and B6. Lack of vitamin B7 can also cause hair loss alopecia and brittle fingernails and toenails.
- Weaker bones: Vitamin D deficiency can cause softer, weaker or easily fractured bones. In children, that can cause bowed or bent bones from rickets. In adults, it can cause osteomalacia.
- Losing balance or falling: This can be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency. It happens when your nervous system has trouble sending signals related to your body position.
- Mouth ulcers or bruises in the corner of your mouth : Lesions in and around the mouth may partly be linked to an insufficient intake of certain vitamins or minerals.For example canker sores, a type of mouth ulcer, are often the result of deficiencies in iron or B vitamins.
- Poor Night vision: A low nutrient eating plan can sometimes reduce and cause night problems.That’s because vitamin A is necessary to produce rhodopsin, a pigment found in the retina of each eye that helps you see at night. Night blindness when leave untreated can progress to xerophthalmia, a condition that can damage your cornea and ultimately lead to blindness. 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.
Other Vitamins deficiencies are :
- Scaly patches and dandruff
- Hair loss
- Red or white bumps on the skin .
- Bone pain
- irregular heartbeat
Summary
Signs and symptoms of a vitamin deficiency vary by the vitamin and severity of the deficiency. A number of these symptoms may overlap with other conditions, so it is important a person receives an accurate diagnosis from a medical professional.
Common signs and symptoms of all deficiencies affect the neurological, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal systems. People may also experience symptoms affecting their eyes, skin, brain, and oral health.
