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Signs of vitamin A deficiency

The main role of retinol (vitamin A) is to protect the body against the action of free radicals (molecules that provoke oxidative processes in the body). With vitamin A deficiency, protective functions are reduced, as a result of which patients become more vulnerable to various diseases. Among the signs vitamin deficiency, which occur most often, one can note problems with the skin and mucous membranes, blurred vision, decreased immunity.

Consequences of vitamin A deficiency for the eyes

Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency from the visual organs are:

• accumulation of crusts in the corners of the eyes;
• xerosis (damage to the conjunctiva and cornea);
• Bitot's spots (spots on the eye sclera);
• keratomalacia (softening of the cornea);
• hemeralopia (inability to adapt to low light);
• color blindness (inability to distinguish colors).

In the absence of the required amount of vitamin A in the body, the functionality of the lacrimal glands is impaired. The surface of the eyes ceases to be moistened, as a result of which they are not cleared of dust. Impurities accumulate in the corners of the eyes in the form of crusts and hardened mucus.

Long-term retinol deficiency leads to the development of xerosis, which affects the conjunctiva (tissue covering the eyes and the inner surface of the eyelids) and the cornea of ​​the eyes. In this case, plaques appear on the surface of the eye, which are called Bitot's spots and can be gray or white. Subsequently, the conjunctiva becomes gray in color, loses its shine and sensitivity. Patients experience a burning sensation, foreign body sensation, and blurred vision.
The next stage of xerosis is keratomalacia, which is characterized by softening and in some cases disintegration of the cornea and conjunctiva. With vitamin deficiency in children, keratomalacia causes complete or partial loss of vision.

Another symptom of vitamin A deficiency is hemeralopia, another name for which is night blindness. With this pathology, the eyes do not adapt well to insufficient lighting, and the person begins to see worse in the dark and at night. Often, with vitamin A deficiency, color blindness develops, in which a person ceases to distinguish colors.

Skin rash due to vitamin A deficiency

Vitamin A deficiency has a negative effect on the functioning of the sebaceous and sweat glands. For this reason, the skin becomes dry and rough. Over time, the skin begins to peel off and a nodular rash appears on its surface. With severe retinol deficiency, follicular hyperkeratosis develops. This disease is caused by the proliferation of the stratum corneum and blockage of the follicles by epidermal scales. Externally, the pathology manifests itself as “goose bumps”, which covers large areas of the body in the area of ​​the elbows, knees, and hips. To the touch, such skin is dense, rough and rough.

Consequences of vitamin A deficiency

Lack of vitamin A provokes pathological changes in internal organs. The most severely affected are young children, in whom vitamin deficiency provokes a deterioration in appetite, stunted growth and weight gain, and mental retardation. An insufficient amount of retinol leads to disruption of the production of the enzyme lysozyme, which protects the body from bacteria. Therefore, with a deficiency of this element, a person becomes more susceptible to infections of the respiratory and digestive tract. Symptoms of retinol deficiency often include various diseases. genitourinary system. Women may develop mastopathy (proliferation of breast tissue), cervical erosion. In men, vitamin A deficiency manifests itself as a lack of sexual desire and/or erection problems. Patients with vitamin A deficiency are at increased risk of developing cancer.

Manifestations of vitamin E deficiency

Vitamin E deficiency can manifest itself in both internal and external pathologies. The lack of this vitamin negatively affects a person’s appearance, physical and mental health.

Muscle weakness due to vitamin E deficiency

Muscle weakness is a characteristic symptom of tocopherol deficiency. Impaired muscle tone leads to decreased performance, passivity, and increased fatigue. Weakness can manifest itself both in the entire body and in its individual parts. Most often the lower and upper extremities are affected. In addition to loss of muscle tone, with vitamin E deficiency, patients often complain of a feeling of numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, loss of sensation, and weakened grasping and other reflexes.

In older people, a lack of vitamin E often manifests itself as severe pain in the calf muscles that occurs when walking. In an effort to reduce pain, a patient with vitamin E deficiency changes his gait, which leads to lameness.

The effect of vitamin E deficiency on the libido of women and men

One of the symptoms of vitamin E deficiency is deterioration in sex life. In men, inadequate amounts of tocopherol reduce the volume and quality of sperm produced. In women, vitamin E deficiency brings the onset of menopause closer and disrupts the menstrual cycle. All these factors lead to a decrease in sexual desire and various sexual disorders.

Symptoms of vitamin E deficiency during pregnancy

The term tocopherol translated from Greek means the bearer of offspring. Thus, vitamin E was designated at the beginning of the last century, when it was established that without it normal conception and pregnancy are impossible. This element has a beneficial effect on ovulation and egg maturation. Tocopherol also prepares the female body for fertilization and fixation of the fetus in the uterus. Therefore, one of the symptoms of vitamin E deficiency is a woman’s inability to become pregnant. When tocopherol deficiency develops during pregnancy, signs of this pathological condition appear already from the first trimester.

Signs of vitamin E deficiency during pregnancy are:

• muscle spasms;
• severe toxicosis;
• fetal developmental delay;
• risk of miscarriage .

Symptoms of vitamin E deficiency on the skin

Tocopherol is an effective antioxidant (a substance that fights aging). With a lack of this element, the barrier functions of the skin deteriorate, as a result of which it is more susceptible to the negative effects of factors environment. With tocopherol deficiency, the skin loses its tone, becomes less elastic and flabby.

A lack of vitamin E negatively affects blood clotting and inhibits the healing of scratches and other skin damage. Also, in the absence of the required amount of tocopherol, the metabolism in the body is disrupted. Under the influence of these factors, patients with vitamin E deficiency suffer from acne and other skin rashes. A common symptom of vitamin E deficiency is the appearance of red spots on the human body. Often, due to a lack of tocopherol, anemia develops, which is manifested by pallor of the skin.

Symptoms of vitamin E deficiency on the hands

With a deficiency of vitamin E, the synthesis of melanin (a pigment substance) increases, resulting in the formation of pigment spots on the skin. Most often, pigmented skin staining is observed on the hands.

Dryness and flaking of the skin are also symptoms of vitamin E deficiency.
The skin becomes thinner and begins to crack. Nail plates lose their strength and become brittle.

Coordination disorder due to vitamin E deficiency

A common symptom of vitamin E deficiency is a disorder called ataxia. With this disease, coordination of movements is impaired. This happens due to the destruction of nerve fibers, which occurs when the body is inadequately supplied with tocopherol. Strength in the upper and lower extremities is significantly reduced, and the patient's movements become imprecise. People lose dexterity, the sequence of actions is disrupted, and in some cases balance may be impaired.

Symptoms of vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency

Vitamin B1 or thiamine is a substance that is involved in many energy processes in the body, but mainly acts as an enzyme in the reactions of nervous tissue (this vitamin is also called anti-neurotic). Therefore, deficiency of this vitamin mainly affects the activity nervous system.

Symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency from the nervous system are:

• increased fatigue;
• sleep disturbance;
• increased tearfulness;
• muscle weakness.

These symptoms are manifestations of mild to moderate vitamin B1 deficiency. They arise as a result of impaired energy metabolism and synthesis of nucleic acids. It is known that the biological role of thiamine is to provide energy potential in nervous tissue (participates in the conduction of nerve impulses), as well as in the synthesis of deoxyribonucleic and ribonucleic acid (DNA and RNA). When vitamin B1 deficiency develops in nerve cells, this primarily affects the speed of nerve impulse conduction and energy metabolism. Clinically, this is expressed in the above symptoms, namely, increased weakness, irritability, tearfulness and other symptoms of exhaustion of the nervous system.

Severe vitamin B1 deficiency is known as beriberi disease.

Thiamine deficiency or beriberi

This form of vitamin deficiency mainly occurs when there is insufficient intake of the vitamin from food. It occurs in people who eat exclusively white rice. IN modern society Beriberi disease is rare.
There are several forms of this pathology, which differ in the body systems involved in the pathological process.

The clinical forms of beriberi are:

• dry form;
• cerebral form;
• wet form.

Dry form of beriberi
This form is also called peripheral polyneuropathy, as it is characterized by damage to the nerve endings of the lower extremities. The term polyneuropathy refers to a pathological process in nerve endings, which is accompanied by loss of function of the area innervated by this nerve.

Beriberi polyneuropathy is characterized by multiple, but at the same time, symmetrical damage to the peripheral nerves.

Complaints of patients with polyneuropathy are:

• burning sensation in the feet;
• paresthesia (sensitivity disorders) in the lower extremities;
• cramps (involuntary contractions with severe pain) in the calf muscles;
• weakness and fatigue when walking.

Also noteworthy is the gait of a patient with polyneuropathy - the patient steps on the outer edge of the foot and heel, since resting on the toes is very painful. When examined by a doctor, the calf muscles look tight and are painful to the touch. In later stages, muscle atrophy develops, in which tendon reflexes and muscle strength are completely lost. At the same time, all types of sensitivity disappear. The final stage of beriberi is characterized by the development of paralysis (complete lack of movement in the limbs). The dry form of beriberi can occur either in isolation or in parallel with other forms.

Cerebral form
The cerebral form of beriberi is also called hemorrhagic polioencephalitis or Korsakoff-Wernicke syndrome. This pathology is also a manifestation of severe vitamin B1 deficiency. Initially, symptoms such as memory impairment and spatial orientation problems appear. Then symptoms associated with insufficiency appear cerebral circulation and which are symptoms of encephalopathy.

Symptoms of beriberi encephalopathy include:

• ophthalmoplegia– paralysis of the eye muscles, in which the eyeball becomes motionless (because the oculomotor nerves are affected);
• ataxia– disturbance of gait and coordination of movements;
• confusion– patients are disoriented in time and space, and sometimes in their own personality.

The above symptoms are explained by a violation of energy metabolism and the accumulation of toxic glutamate. The activity of those enzymes in which vitamin B1 plays the role of a coenzyme is critically reduced (we are talking about enzymes such as pyruvate dehydrogenase and transketolase). Also, in the absence of vitamin B1 in brain tissue, glucose consumption by nerve cells decreases. Since glucose is the main source of energy in brain tissue, energy deficiency develops. Against the background of this deficiency and reduced enzyme activity, glutamate accumulates. It has a neurotoxic effect, that is, it disrupts the structure and function of the nervous system. Likewise, it has a damaging effect on the cranial nerves, which is manifested by symptoms such as nystagmus, ophthalmoplegia. In the absence of emergency measures to provide medical care, coma develops and death is possible.

Wet form
This form of beriberi affects the cardiovascular system. It is characterized by the development of cardiodystrophy (damage to the heart muscle) and impaired vascular tone. The wet form of vitamin B1 deficiency manifests itself in two variants - hypodynamic and hyperdynamic. With the hypodynamic variant, low cardiac output is noted, so its main manifestations are low blood pressure. In the hyperdynamic variant, cardiac output, on the contrary, is increased. Therefore, the main manifestations of this form are high blood pressure and tachycardia (frequent heartbeat). It is also characterized by the rapid development of heart failure, in which swelling, difficulty breathing, and even pulmonary edema appear.

Symptoms of beriberi in children

In children, thiamine vitamin deficiency is extremely rare. It is typically seen in infants approximately 2 to 4 months old who were born to mothers with severe beriberi. This pathology manifests itself with very diverse symptoms.

Symptoms of beriberi in children are:

• signs of heart failure– bluish discoloration of the skin, wheezing in the lungs, low cardiac output;
• signs of nervous system damage– anxiety, sleep disturbance, lack of tendon reflexes;
• aphonia– a condition in which the sonority of the child’s voice is impaired;
• prolonged absence of stool(constipation) and other disorders of the gastrointestinal system;
• visual impairment.

Signs of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency

Vitamin B2 or riboflavin is involved in the regulation of cell growth and reproduction functions. It is involved in the body's basic redox reactions and is also essential for the formation of red blood cells. Riboflavin is also called the beauty vitamin because it ensures the healthy condition of the skin and its appendages (hair and nails).

Organs that are affected by riboflavin deficiency include:

• skin and its derivatives (hair, nails);
• mucous membranes - mucous membrane of the tongue, conjunctiva;
• eyes - sclera, cornea.

Manifestations of vitamin B2 deficiency on the skin

Skin manifestations of vitamin B2 deficiency are the earliest among all signs of vitamin deficiency. The skin becomes dry and flaky, and cracks appear on it. Manifestations of vitamin B2 deficiency are seborrheic dermatitis and angular cheilitis.

Symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis are:

• redness of the skin;
• peeling and dry skin;
• accumulation of sebum in hair follicles;
• sometimes the formation of whitish or yellow scales.

Symptoms of dermatitis can appear anywhere, but favorite places are the wings of the nose and the ears.
Angular cheilitis is a lesion of the skin and at the same time the mucous membrane in the area of ​​the corners of the mouth. Initially, slight maceration (softening) appears in the corners, which is further complicated by the appearance of cracks. Popularly, these inflamed cracks are called jams. Further, when an infection occurs, the jams can become inflamed and bleed.

A lack of vitamin B2 can also manifest itself in various rashes, which most often look like red, scaly spots. Sometimes the periungual bed may become inflamed. However, most often the nails themselves become brittle. Hair also loses its shine, splits and falls out.

Inflammation of the tongue due to vitamin B2 deficiency

Glossitis or inflammation of the tongue due to vitamin B2 deficiency is very common symptom. With glossitis, the tongue swells and becomes bright red. The mucous membrane of the tongue becomes dry, which provokes difficulties in the digestion process. The patient also complains of burning, tingling and other unpleasant sensations in the tongue. Initially, the taste buds of the tongue (of which there are many) stand out and the tongue acquires a clear pattern. However, over time they atrophy and the tongue becomes very smooth. In the clinic, this phenomenon is called “polished tongue.”
Similarly, with vitamin B2 deficiency, constant dryness of the mucous membrane of the lips and eyes is observed.

Eye symptoms with vitamin B2 deficiency

Ocular symptoms of riboflavin deficiency include photophobia, burning sensation and pain in the eyes. All these symptoms are associated with the development of blepharitis, keratitis and conjunctivitis. With blepharitis, the edges of the eyelids become inflamed, and with keratitis, the cornea of ​​the eye is affected. In severe cases of vitamin deficiency, there may also be cataracts, in which the lens becomes cloudy and the patient loses vision. A common manifestation of eye symptoms is conjunctivitis. With this manifestation, the mucous membrane of the eyes is always red and swollen, and the patient suffers from photophobia, a burning sensation and a feeling of sand (or other foreign body) in the eyes.

In the later stages, when severe vitamin B2 deficiency develops, symptoms of damage to the nervous system and anemic syndrome appear. Dysfunction of the nervous system manifests itself in impaired coordination of movements (ataxia), impaired sensitivity (paresthesia) and increased tendon reflexes. Anemic syndrome is characterized by a reduced number of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. Anemia also causes increased fatigue associated with oxygen deprivation, rapid heartbeat, and excessive sleepiness.

Vitamin B2 deficiency in pregnant women

Because vitamin B2 plays important role in the regulation of cell growth and renewal, its deficiency during pregnancy is accompanied by the development of severe abnormalities in the fetus. The most commonly observed abnormalities are skeletal development, anemia in newborns, and damage to the nervous system.
If vitamin B2 deficiency is accompanied by other types of vitamin deficiency, then malformations of the heart and its blood vessels and gastrointestinal tract abnormalities are also observed.

Manifestations of vitamin B3 deficiency (vitamin PP)

There are several synonyms for vitamin B3, the most popular of which are niacin, nicotinic acid, vitamin PP. This vitamin takes part in many vital reactions of the body. However, the main role is energy generation and normalization of cardio-vascular system(heart and circulation). Since niacin breaks down fats to provide energy, it also has an anti-cholesterol effect.

Symptoms of vitamin B3 deficiency are:

• dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract;
• elevated cholesterol levels.

Depression due to vitamin PP deficiency

Vitamin B3 or niacin is known to be a major source of energy. When there is a deficiency of a vitamin, it begins to be synthesized from an amino acid such as tryptophan. Biological role tryptophan is that it subsequently produces serotonin. In the central nervous system, serotonin is the main stimulus. It regulates sleep, wakefulness, our mood, concentration and other important mental functions. With its deficiency, symptoms such as insomnia, irritability, and low mood appear. Prolonged depression and low mood can turn into depression. All this is reinforced by reduced energy metabolism in nerve cells, as a result of which the course of depression is further aggravated.

Thus, vitamin PP deficiency indirectly leads to a lack of serotonin and the development of depressive disorders.

Dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract due to vitamin PP deficiency

In addition to its activating effect on the cerebral cortex, niacin has a stimulating effect on the motor function of the stomach and intestines. This vitamin also stimulates the secretion of amylase and lipase by the pancreas. It has a vasodilating effect and also improves blood circulation in the intestinal loops. With its deficiency, intestinal motor activity is disrupted, the secretion of pancreatic enzymes is reduced and diarrhea (frequent bowel movements) often develops.

Increased cholesterol levels due to vitamin deficiency RR

Since niacin is involved in the metabolism of lipids and proteins, it helps reduce the level of cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins in the blood. Therefore, it is successfully used in the complex treatment of diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis and various dyslipidemias (lipid metabolism disorders). Lack or complete absence of niacin leads to an increase in the concentration of cholesterol in the blood (more than 5 millimoles per liter), as well as an increase in low-density lipoproteins. It is low-density lipoproteins that are the transport form of cholesterol, that is, they contribute to the development of the atherosclerotic process. Thus, vitamin PP deficiency provokes the development of the atherosclerotic process.
Severe vitamin PP deficiency is called pellagra.

Symptoms of pellagra or vitamin deficiency RR

This pathology is characterized by a classic triad of symptoms, which includes dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia (popularly referred to as dementia).

Dermatitis
Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin, namely its upper layer - the epidermis. Dermatitis with pellagra is characterized by rough and rough skin. This is the main manifestation of pellagra, because from Italian this term is translated as “rough skin.” The skin is inflamed, bright red and constantly peels. These manifestations are especially noticeable on the face, neck, shoulders, that is, on those parts of the body that are exposed to ultraviolet rays.

Diarrhea
Diarrhea is an intestinal disorder in which stool occurs more than 3 times a day. In this case, the stool is liquid, unformed, with an admixture of undigested food particles. Symptoms of vitamin deficiency such as loss of appetite and impaired digestion are associated with diarrhea.

Dementia
Dementia (dementia) is an extreme degree of damage to the nervous system due to pellagra. First, symptoms such as weakness, memory loss, and confusion appear. Patients begin to forget basic things and become absent-minded. Then symptoms such as disorientation in time and space appear. Senile dementia develops, which means complete collapse mental functions. Popularly, this condition is called senile insanity.

Symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency

Pyridoxine takes part in many vital functions of the body. Therefore, vitamin B6 deficiency provokes many pathologies in various organs. The most vulnerable to pyridoxine deficiency are hair, skin, and nervous system.

The effect of vitamin deficiency on hair condition

Vitamin B6 takes an active part in processes that ensure healthy hair. With a lack of this element, the hair does not receive sufficient nutrition and hydration, which affects the condition of the hair. Symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency include poor growth, dryness and brittle hair. With prolonged pyridoxine deficiency, hair loss begins, the intensity of which progresses. Pyridoxine regulates the activity of the sebaceous glands of the scalp. Therefore, with vitamin B6 deficiency, the function of the sebaceous glands is impaired, which leads to various pathological conditions. A common sign of vitamin B6 deficiency is dry and itchy scalp. Many patients begin to be bothered by dry dandruff.

The effect of vitamin deficiency on a person’s weight

Pyridoxine takes part in the metabolism of fats and proteins, ensuring the breakdown of these elements and their absorption. This vitamin is also involved in the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids. Vitamin B6 acts as a diuretic (diuretic), preventing water retention in the body. Lack of vitamin B6 provokes a violation of lipid-protein metabolism and difficult breakdown fatty acids. As a result, the body does not consume the nutrients of fats, and they are transformed into fat. This leads to the fact that patients with B6 deficiency are often overweight, which they cannot get rid of even with dieting and exercise.

Drowsiness with vitamin B6 deficiency

Drowsiness is one of the most common symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency. Lack of vitamin B6 provokes a number of pathological processes. As a result, a patient with pyridoxine deficiency has difficulty sleeping at night. Chronic lack of sleep leads to absent-mindedness, inability to concentrate and decreased ability to work.

Factors that provoke drowsiness are:

• impaired production of neurotransmitters (hormones that transmit nerve impulses);
• poor supply of nerve cells with glucose;
• muscle spasms during sleep.

Vitamin B6 is involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the central and peripheral nervous system. In addition, a lack of pyridoxine negatively affects the process of supplying nerve cells with glucose. Nervous system disorders negatively affect the quality of sleep, which prevents the body from recovering at night and leads to drowsiness during the day.
The resting process is also disrupted by spasms of the calf muscles at night, which are a common occurrence with vitamin B6 deficiency. In this case, the convulsions are pronounced; patients wake up in the middle of the night and cannot fall asleep for a long time.

Manifestations of vitamin B6 deficiency on the face

Skin lesions are part of the triad of symptoms accompanying pyridoxine deficiency. Most often, skin problems take the form of seborrheic dermatitis, which is localized to the face.

Symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency that appear on the face are:

• peeling of the face (complete or partial);
• dry patches of skin in the area of ​​the nasolabial folds;
• peeling of the skin above the eyebrows and around the eyes.

Symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency on the lips

Often, a disease such as cheilosis appears as a symptom of vitamin B6 deficiency. This pathology manifests itself as dystrophy (cell damage) of the skin in the lip area. In this case, the border of the lips swells and turns red, becoming painful. Cracks may form perpendicular to the border. Patients complain of a burning sensation, dryness and itching of the lips. Often, border dystrophy is accompanied by swelling of the lips, which impairs speech and makes eating difficult.

Why does vitamin B6 deficiency lead to irritability?

Vitamin B6 takes part in the production of serotonin (hormone). This substance regulates the functioning of the nervous system and controls a person’s reaction to stressful situations. If the amount of pyridoxine is insufficient, the process of serotonin synthesis is inhibited. As a result, the patient becomes irritable, hot-tempered and loses the ability to adequately respond to conflicting circumstances.

Signs of vitamin B12 deficiency

Deficiency of vitamin B12 or cyanocobalamin is manifested by various disorders of the hematopoietic, nervous and gastrointestinal systems (classic triad of symptoms). These symptoms are explained by the fact that vitamin B12 is involved in the synthesis of red blood cells, choline and fatty acids necessary for the brain. Also, with a lack of cyanocobalamin in the body, toxic methylmalonic acid is formed, which causes toxic damage to the lateral cords of the spinal cord and the development of funicular myelosis.

Signs of vitamin B12 deficiency are:

• megaloblastic anemia;
• damage to the nervous system;
• damage to the gastrointestinal tract.

Anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency

Anemia is a decrease in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin concentration in the blood. With vitamin B12 deficiency, anemia is the most common manifestation.

The cause of anemia is the insufficient and poor-quality formation of blood cells, the formation of which requires this vitamin. With cyanocobalamin deficiency, hemoblastosis develops, which is characterized by large forms of leukocytes, platelets and rapid destruction of red blood cells. A distinctive characteristic of B12 deficiency anemia is that along with mature red blood cells, young forms of red blood cells (called reticulocytes) also decrease. This means that the pathological process is already realized at the stage of red blood cell formation. There is not only a decrease in the number of blood cells (erythrocytes, reticulocytes, platelets), but also a change in their shape. They increase in size, but at the same time, their wall becomes fragile and therefore they quickly collapse. Hemoblastosis with vitamin B12 deficiency is also characterized by a decrease in the number of leukocytes and platelets.

With anemia, a person experiences constant headaches, dizziness, weakness and increased exhaustion. The reason for this is oxygen deficiency, which always accompanies anemia (since hemoglobin is an oxygen carrier). B12-deficiency anemia is characterized by a specific coloration of the skin. Thus, the patient’s skin takes on a lemon-colored tint. This color is due to the release of a large amount of bilirubin from red blood cells into the bloodstream. It gives the skin a specific shade.

Laboratory blood picture for B12-deficiency anemia

Intestinal damage due to vitamin B12 deficiency

The basis of intestinal damage is a violation of the formation of the mucous layer at the level of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). It is known that vitamin B12 is used as a building material in cell synthesis (participates in the formation of DNA and RNA). Since epithelial cells renew themselves faster than all other cells (the epithelium changes within a month), they turn out to be the most sensitive to a lack of cyanocobalamin.

Signs of gastrointestinal damage due to vitamin B12 deficiency are:

• periodic constipation;
• lack of appetite and, as a result, loss of body weight;
• glossitis (inflammation of the tongue), manifested by a burning sensation and distension.

With B12 deficiency, glossitis is called Gunter's. It is characterized by a change in the structure of the language. This is expressed in a change in color (the tongue becomes bright red) and a smoothing of its relief.

It should be noted that despite the abundance of symptoms from the gastrointestinal system, the clinical picture is often blurred. The above symptoms may periodically appear and disappear or be replaced by other symptoms. This is the reason that patients do not seek help from a doctor for a long time. Lethargy and weakness headache, periodic nausea, as well as poor appetite do not give a clear clinical picture.

Damage to the nervous system due to vitamin B12 deficiency

Damage to the nervous system due to a lack of vitamin B12 often accelerates the diagnosis of vitamin deficiency. The neurological syndrome caused by cyanocobalamin deficiency is called funicular myelosis. The cause of neurological symptoms is the lack of myelin in the nervous system. Vitamin B12 is involved in the metabolism of myelin, which subsequently forms the myelin sheath of nerve fibers. This sheath ensures the conduction of nerve impulses along the nerve fiber 10 times faster than through unmyelinated fibers. Therefore, with funicular myelosis, degeneration of the myelin sheath occurs with the further development of motor and sensory disorders. This pathology is characterized by damage to both the posterior and lateral columns of the spinal cord.

Manifestations of neurological syndrome with vitamin B12 deficiency are:

• emotional lability – increased irritability, decreased mood;
• unsteady gait;
• numbness of the lower extremities;
• stiffness in the legs;
• severe muscle weakness;
• cramps (sharp muscle contractions);
• in later stages, loss of deep sensitivity.

Symptoms of folic acid deficiency (vitamin B9)

Folic acid or vitamin B9 plays an important role in the process of growth and differentiation of body cells. Folic acid deficiency is especially dangerous for pregnant women, because it affects the formation of the fetus. That is why all pregnant women are prescribed folic acid to prevent the development of abnormalities in the fetus.
In the body, folic acid and cyanocobalamin function together. Thus, under the influence of cyanocobalamin, the inactive form of folic acid transforms into the active one. Next, components for DNA are synthesized from the active form of folic acid. Thus, a deficiency of vitamin B12 is almost always accompanied by a deficiency of vitamin B9, because it is necessary for the conversion of folic acid into its active form. Because of this joint functioning of vitamins, folic acid deficiency manifests itself in symptoms similar to vitamin B12 deficiency.

Anemia due to folic acid deficiency

Anemia due to folic acid deficiency is called megaloblastic. It is characterized by the appearance of large forms of red blood cells (macrocytes) of irregular oval shape. Basophilic granularity in erythrocytes and hypersegmentation of nuclei in leukocytes are also detected. This picture is specific to megaloblastic anemia and does not occur in other types.

The cause of anemia due to a lack of folic acid is a violation of DNA synthesis and, as a consequence, abnormal mitosis (cell division as a way of their reproduction). As a result of this, the maturation of red blood cells and their further reproduction are delayed in the bone marrow (since there is not enough building material for this). Thus, the process of hematopoiesis itself is disrupted, which concerns not only red blood cells, but also other blood cells.

Blood picture with folic acid deficiency

Laboratory sign	Interpretation
Hyperchromic anemia	hemoglobin less than 120; color index more than 1.05.
Leukopenia	White blood cells less than 4 x 10 to the ninth power
Thrombocytopenia	Platelets less than 180 x 10 to the ninth power
Reticulocytopenia	Reticulocytes ( young forms of red blood cells) less than 2 percent.
Anisocytosis	A blood smear contains cells of various sizes.
Poikilocytosis	The presence of red blood cells of various shapes, for example, club-shaped or pear-shaped.
Hypersegmentation of leukocytes	Leukocytes with several segments of nuclei are detected.
Megaloblastosis	Presence of megaloblasts. Megaloblasts are large-sized precursors of red blood cells with delayed nuclear maturation, with normal cytoplasm.

Damage to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) due to folic acid deficiency

Abnormal mitosis (cell division) occurs not only at the bone marrow level, but also at the level of other systems. Thus, the appearance of giant epithelial cells at the level of the gastrointestinal mucosa leads to the development of inflammatory processes.

Inflammatory phenomena associated with folic acid deficiency include:

• stomatitis – inflammation of the oral mucosa, which is accompanied by severe pain;
• glossitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the tongue, which is manifested by a burning sensation and swelling in the tongue;
• gastritis is an inflammatory lesion of the gastric mucosa, which is characterized by pain in the stomach, nausea, vomiting;
• enteritis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the small intestine, accompanied by stool disorder.

Folic acid deficiency in pregnant women

Folic acid deficiency has the most dramatic effect in pregnant women. This vitamin makes a decisive decision in the development of the fetus in the early stages of pregnancy (precisely in the first trimester). It is involved in the formation of the neural tube, hematopoietic processes and in the formation of the placenta itself.

The consequences of folic acid deficiency in pregnant women are:

• anomalies of the development of the nervous system, which are most often incompatible with life - cerebral hernias, hydrocephalus (“dropsy of the brain”), anencephaly;
• abnormalities in the formation and attachment of the placenta;
• vascular abnormalities, which leads to termination of pregnancy;
• premature birth and, as a consequence, the birth of premature babies;
• mental retardation and mental disorders in children.

In pregnant women themselves, folic acid deficiency is accompanied by the development of megaloblastic anemia, with all the ensuing consequences. The main danger posed by anemia for pregnant women is chronic oxygen deficiency in the fetus. Since the main function of hemoglobin, which decreases during anemia, is oxygen transport, when it decreases, oxygen deficiency or hypoxia develops. Chronic hypoxia is also the cause of multiple fetal abnormalities and the development of childhood encephalopathy. Fetal growth retardation occurs in every fourth woman who suffers from anemia. Also, anemia during pregnancy is dangerous due to the increased risk of uterine bleeding (because megaloblastic anemia is accompanied by a decrease in platelets). The threat of miscarriage due to anemia occurs in 30–40 percent of cases, premature placental abruption occurs in 25 percent. Also, childbirth itself with anemia is often complicated by bleeding and inflammatory complications in the early postpartum period.

Manifestations of vitamin C deficiency (scurvy)

Vitamin C deficiency is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin C or ascorbic acid regulates the most important functions of the body. In order to understand how dangerous a deficiency of vitamin C is, it is necessary to know its functions and biological role.

The functions of ascorbic acid in the body are:

• function of detoxification and neutralization of superoxide radicals;
• immunomodulation function, due to the restoration of vitamin E and interferon;
• promotes iron absorption;
• stimulates collagen synthesis;
• participates in the formation of serotonin from tryptophan;
• has a strengthening effect on blood vessels;
• takes part in the formation of bile acids.

Thus, vitamin C is involved in maintaining the functioning of many organs and systems. Its deficiency affects the immune, hematopoietic, nervous and gastrointestinal systems of the body.
It is customary to distinguish between a lack of vitamin C and its complete absence. A deficiency of ascorbic acid develops within one to three months of its deficiency in the diet. The complete absence of vitamin C in the body is called scurvy. This condition develops after three to six months of ascorbic acid deficiency. There are three degrees of vitamin C deficiency.

The degrees of vitamin C deficiency in the body include:

• first degree– manifested by symptoms such as muscle pain, fatigue, enlarged gums;
• second degree– manifested by weight loss, mental exhaustion, periodic nosebleeds;
• third degree– characterized by hemorrhages in internal organs, gangrenous gingivitis, and tooth loss.

First degree of vitamin C deficiency

It begins with mild symptoms of malaise and fatigue. The reason for this is anemia (decreased blood hemoglobin) and decreased immunity. Anemia develops due to impaired absorption of iron at the level of the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, ascorbic acid is involved in the conversion of ferric iron to divalent iron. Iron, which enters the body with food and is used for the synthesis of hemoglobin, has a third degree of valency, but only iron of the second valence is absorbed at the mucosal level. Vitamin C converts ferric iron into ferrous iron, thereby ensuring its absorption. Next, heme, part of hemoglobin, is synthesized from iron. When there is a lack of vitamin C, iron is not absorbed by the mucous membrane, since it remains trivalent. This leads to its deficiency and, as a consequence, to the development of anemia. Since hemoglobin is an oxygen transporter, when it is deficient, oxygen starvation develops. Therefore, a person experiences fatigue, severe weakness, and muscle pain.

The gums become slightly swollen and often bleed. The first degree of vitamin deficiency is also characterized by minor hemorrhages. They arise due to excessive fragility of blood vessels and increased permeability of the vascular wall. Ascorbic acid plays a major role in increasing vascular tone and resistance. With its deficiency, blood vessels become brittle and fragile, so any blow provokes the formation of hematomas and hemorrhages.

Second degree of vitamin C deficiency

With the second degree of vitamin C deficiency, a person begins to lose weight. He develops severe anemia, resulting in massive vascular damage. Profuse nosebleeds appear, the skin of patients becomes dark in color. The gums become swollen and bluish, and are also covered with small ulcers. The teeth begin to loosen. Also, the second degree of vitamin deficiency is characterized by mental exhaustion, in which patients become irritable, lethargic and sleep poorly.

Third degree vitamin deficiency C

With the third degree of vitamin C deficiency, patients are in a very serious condition. Extensive hemorrhages develop in the muscles and internal organs, which entails various complications. Trophic ulcers appear on the lower extremities due to infection of hematomas. Gingivitis becomes gangrenous in nature - the gums constantly bleed, swell, and become covered with ulcerations. All this leads to the fact that teeth begin to fall out.

Numerous hemorrhages in the internal organs are often complicated by infection. Therefore, mortality at this stage due to sepsis is very high.

Symptoms of scurvy

Scurvy or scurvy manifests itself in various symptoms. At the initial stage, it is characterized by general symptoms, manifested in the form of weakness, fatigue and pain in the legs. Subsequently, these manifestations are accompanied by weakness, apathy, and drowsiness. However, specific symptoms for scurvy are frequent hemorrhages and gum damage.

The gums become bluish, swell and are easily injured when brushing your teeth. The gum tissue becomes loose and the teeth begin to loosen. Over time, the fixation of teeth in the jaw weakens so much that teeth begin to fall out.

Due to impaired collagen synthesis, the vascular wall becomes very fragile. This entails frequent hemorrhages and the formation of hematomas (collections of blood). These hematomas can form in internal organs, in the skin, and in the subperiosteal space. If the hematoma is localized between the bone and the periosteum (most often this occurs on lower limb), then this provokes severe pain. This symptom is often observed with vitamin C deficiency in children.

Hemorrhages in the skin can be in the form of a small rash (at the initial stage) or in the form of dark red spots (ecchymoses). When large hemorrhages develop, the skin underneath may be torn off. Thus, scurvy ulcers form. Violation of the integrity of blood vessels in the internal organs is accompanied by nasal, gastric, intestinal, and kidney bleeding. Scurvy is always accompanied by anemia, physical and mental exhaustion.

Symptoms of vitamin deficiency in children

Vitamin deficiency of vitamin D and C most often occurs in children. The most severe consequences are accompanied by vitamin D deficiency. Thus, in young children it leads to damage to the bone apparatus and nervous system.

Causes of vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is a common pathology caused by climatic conditions, dietary habits or certain diseases.

Factors that lead to vitamin D deficiency are:

• overweight;
• lack of sunlight;
• vegetarian food system;
• deterioration of absorption (digestibility) of the vitamin;
• poor processing of the vitamin into its active form;
• taking medications that interfere with vitamin metabolism.

Overweight
Most people whose weight index exceeds 30 (the norm varies from 18.5 to 25) suffer from a lack of vitamin D. Deficiency develops because adipose tissue absorbs this vitamin in large quantities.

Sunlight deficiency
One form of vitamin D (cholecalciferol) is synthesized in the body under the influence of sunlight. Therefore, residents of the northern regions often lack this element. Also, people who spend a lot of time in rooms where sunlight does not penetrate suffer from a deficiency of this vitamin. The production of cholecalciferol is significantly reduced when using sunscreens, as they do not allow the skin to absorb ultraviolet radiation. Melanin (a natural skin pigment) inhibits the synthesis of vitamin D, so people with dark skin tones are more at risk of developing vitamin deficiency.

Vegetarian food system
Vitamin D comes in two forms (cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol), both of which are found in animal products. Therefore, people who adhere to a strict vegetarian diet and refuse fish, liver, and eggs are susceptible to this pathology.

Impaired vitamin absorption
If you have certain diseases, your body's ability to absorb vitamin D from food is significantly reduced. Inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) impair the absorption functions of the mucous membrane, which leads to a deficiency of this element. Vitamin D deficiency often occurs in patients with Crohn's disease (inflammatory damage to the gastrointestinal tract), cystic fibrosis (pathology of organs that secrete mucus, including the intestines).

Poor processing of the vitamin into its active form
In order for vitamin D to be absorbed by the body, it must enter its active form. The processing process occurs in the liver, then in the kidneys. Therefore, as the functionality of these organs deteriorates, a deficiency of this vitamin may develop. People in old age are most susceptible to vitamin D deficiency due to its poor transformation.

Taking medications that interfere with vitamin metabolism
A group of medications that inhibit the metabolism of vitamin D include antacids (drugs for reducing the acidity of gastric juice). Medicines designed to combat high cholesterol reduce the quality of absorption of this vitamin. Mineral and synthetic laxatives worsen vitamin D metabolism.

Signs of vitamin D deficiency in children

In children, a lack of vitamin D affects the condition of the bone and nervous system. The first signs of the disease appear at the age of 2 – 3 months. The child becomes irritable, whiny, and sleeps poorly. There is an increased susceptibility to external stimuli - he is frightened by loud sounds and flashes of light. First of all, the baby does not sleep well, he has difficulty falling asleep, and once he falls asleep, he often wakes up. Sleep is very shallow and intermittent. During sleep, the child's parents notice that he begins to sweat a lot. This sweating is especially noticeable on the scalp, in the back of the head. The child begins to rub the back of his head against the pillow, which leads to patches of baldness in this area.

The child's muscles become flaccid and muscle hypotonia develops. It is worth noting that children of this age, on the contrary, are characterized by increased muscle tone (hypertonicity). Therefore, when physiological hypertonicity gives way to hypotonicity, it is immediately noticeable. Children become inactive and apathetic.

The main effect of vitamin D deficiency is on bone structure. Thus, with vitamin D deficiency, softening of bone structures and resorption of bone tissue elements occurs. This phenomenon is called osteomalacia. It is caused by a violation of phosphorus-calcium metabolism, which occurs with a lack of vitamin D. It is known that the biological effect of the vitamin is to ensure the absorption of calcium and phosphorus at the intestinal level. After these microelements are absorbed, they are transported by the blood plasma to the bone structures. Under the influence of parathyroid hormone, bones are saturated with calcium and phosphorus. However, this does not happen with a lack of vitamin. Therefore, vitamin D deficiency is accompanied by impaired phosphorus-calcium metabolism.

The child’s bone structures become soft and, first of all, this is noticeable on the bones of the skull. The sutures of the skull become pliable, and there is also a delay in the closure of the greater fontanel. Later, curvature of the bones of the arms, legs and spine develops. A symptom such as “rachitic rosary” appears. Rosaries are thickenings that form at the junction of the cartilaginous and bony parts of the costal arch. What parents also pay attention to is the delay in the appearance of the first teeth and the development of rickets.

Before use, you should consult a specialist.

For city dwellers, symptoms such as chronic fatigue, exhausted appearance and increased irritability have long been considered the norm. Dry sensitive skin, brittle hair, peeling nails - we see the causes of all these troubles in poor ecology and endless stress. And, of course, there is some truth in this.

But to a very large extent, how we look and how we feel depends on ourselves and how much we take care of our body. Full sleep proper nutrition, moderate exercise and mental balance - these are the four things on which a person’s physical health is based.

It’s worth removing at least one element, and the consequences will not keep you waiting.

Our nutrition plays the most important role; literally everything depends on it: our appearance, our well-being and even our mood! To feel healthy, energetic and full of energy, you need not only calories, but also vitamins and minerals.

You will be surprised, but sometimes a single vitamin can completely change a person, no matter how strange it may sound. For example, a severe deficiency of B vitamins can make a person irritable and hysterical, or even drive depression.

In this case, after a course of vitamins, these “character traits” (which in this case are just symptoms) usually begin to go away on their own, even if the external circumstances with which the person explained his behavior have not changed.

The site has put together its own mini vitamins for dummies guide to help you figure out which vitamins and minerals you're missing and choose your vitamins.

When are vitamins and minerals needed?

When are vitamins and minerals needed?

If your diet is well balanced, then you should not be lacking in vitamins. But this is theoretical. In practice, the need for vitamins and minerals varies from person to person and depends not only on diet, but also on lifestyle, health status, age, etc. As a rule, the need for additional vitamin intake arises in the following cases:

• you are pregnant or breastfeeding (in this case, you should consult your doctor about which vitamins are best for you to take);

Dosage and rules for taking vitamins

are you a vegetarian or vegan?

you have been on strict probation for a long time diet ;

you have just suffered from a cold or infectious disease;

you regularly experience stress;

you are forced work to the limit your mental or physical capabilities;

you lead a bohemian lifestyle (drink a lot, smoke and don’t sleep at night).

Also, usually the need for vitamins increases in the winter-spring period, when there are few fresh vegetables and fruits.

The condition of partial deficiency of vitamins is called hypovitaminosis, and it is what occurs most often. An extreme degree of vitamin deficiency is already vitamin deficiency, but to reach such a state, you need to try very hard. For example, to get scurvy, you need to avoid eating foods containing vitamin C for at least 4 weeks.

There is also a condition opposite to hypovitaminosis - hypervitaminosis, but it is much less common and usually occurs due to excessive intake of vitamins, so it is better not to overuse.

Vitamins are fat-soluble (A, D, E, F, K) and water-soluble (C, B and others).

Excess water-soluble vitamins are excreted from the body in the urine, so their overdose is not so bad (but it’s better not to overuse), while fat-soluble vitamins accumulate and can cause hypervitaminosis. Hypovitaminosis is most often caused by a lack of water-soluble vitamins.

Both hypovitaminosis and hypervitaminosis can manifest themselves in very different ways, and each vitamin has its own symptoms.

How do you know if you need additional vitamins? See if you fall into one of the groups listed above. If yes, then most likely you need vitamins.

1. Analyze your diet.

To do this, try writing down for a week everything you eat and in what quantities, and at the end, calculate whether you get enough vitamins from food (to calculate, use tables of vitamin content in foods - they can be easily found on the Internet).

2. Focus on how you feel.

Lethargy, constant drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, skin problems, bad mood for a long period, frequent colds, muscle weakness - if there are no other objective reasons, then all of this may be signs of hypovitaminosis.

If you have serious health problems, then you should not play Dr. House and self-medicate - it’s better to go to the doctor.

Selecting vitamins

Selecting vitamins

So, you have decided that you are lacking vitamins, but you cannot determine which ones. As already mentioned, each hypovitaminosis has its own manifestations. If possible, of course, it is advisable to see a doctor and get tests that will show what exactly you are missing.

Dosage and rules for taking vitamins

We will not go into the weeds and consider symptoms such as “impaired glutamine metabolism” and “vascularization of the cornea”, but will take only those that you can observe in yourself (but in this case it is still advisable to check your guess with a doctor).

Appearance

Externally, a lack of vitamins and minerals can manifest itself in an exhausted, tired appearance, problems with skin and hair:

1. Dry, irritated, flaky skin - A, C, E, vitamin B complex, I.
2. Dry and brittle hair - A, B7, Ca (calcium), D (for calcium absorption).
3. Hair loss - B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, A, E, D, C, Zn (zinc).
4. Problem skin - A, E, vitamin B complex, Zn, Mg (magnesium).
5. Brittle, peeling nails - A, E, B5, Ca (+D)
6. Problems with teeth (enamel destruction, caries) - Ca, D3, C.
7. Dandruff - B6, B12, F, Se (selenium).

Well-being

Vitamin deficiency also has a very noticeable effect on health. For example, the following conditions may be associated with a lack of vitamins:

1. Frequent colds - A, C, K.
2. Weakness, increased fatigue - B1, B2, B5, B6, B7, B12, C, D3, E, I (iodine), Zn.
3. Memory impairment - B1, B4, B5, B6, C, F (Omega-3 and Omega-6), I, Zn.
4. Frequent headache - B1, B12, C, D3, Mg, I.
5. Problems with concentration - B6, C, F, I.
6. Depression, depressed mood - B6, B7, B12, C, F, I, Zn.
7. Increased irritability - B5, B6, B12, E, F, I, Zn.

Rules for taking vitamins

Dosage and rules for taking vitamins

If you find yourself lacking one or more vitamins, do not rush to the pharmacy for popular vitamin complexes. Selecting the dosage and the right combination of vitamins is also a whole science.

Unfortunately, many commercial vitamin supplements contain vitamins and minerals that interfere with the absorption of each other, such as calcium and zinc. Remember a simple rule: the more vitamins in one tablet, the less benefit it contains.

Dosage and rules for taking vitamins

If you choose a vitamin complex, then make sure that the components in its composition at least do not interfere with each other, or better yet, contribute to the absorption of each other. For example, the following combinations can be called ideal from the point of view of compatibility of components: A + E + C, as well as Ca + Mg + D3.

Also keep in mind that your individual daily dose may differ from the standard dose - it depends on your lifestyle, working conditions and other factors. Below is a list of the most important vitamins and minerals, the deficiency of which is most often encountered by residents of megacities.

You can print it out and expertly select the optimal set of vitamins in accordance with your needs at the pharmacy.

A (retinol), F (fat soluble)

Daily rate:- 900 mcg, maximum - 3000 mcg.
Sources: fish oil, liver, wild garlic, viburnum
The need increases with intense physical and mental stress, pregnancy, gastrointestinal diseases, infections, constant work at the computer
Peculiarities: it is advisable to use simultaneously with E, C and zinc

B1 (thiamine), B (water soluble)

Daily rate: 1.4-2.4 mg
Sources: pine nuts, peas, soy, oatmeal
The need increases with intense physical activity, stress, pregnancy, infectious diseases, cold climate, excessive consumption of tea, coffee or alcohol
Peculiarities: it is advisable to use separately from B12 and B6: B12 can enhance the allergic reaction to B1, and B6 interferes with the transition of B1 to its active form

B2 (riboflavin), B

Daily rate: 1.5-2.5 mg
Sources: pine nuts, liver, eggs, almonds
The need increases with intense physical activity, stress, pregnancy.
Peculiarities: preferably consumed with meals

B3 (niacin), B

Daily rate: 15-20 mg
Sources: champignons, beans, peas, liver
The need increases with extreme weather conditions (hot or cold), intense physical activity, pregnancy, vegetarian/vegan diet

B6 (pyridoxine), B

Daily rate: 1.5-2 mg
Sources: pine nuts, beans, liver, pomegranate, sweet pepper
The need increases with intense physical activity, pregnancy, stress
Peculiarities: Mg is required for absorption, it is advisable to use it separately from B1

B12 (cyanocobalamin), B

Daily rate: 2-3 mcg
Sources: liver, kidneys, meat, fish, milk, eggs
The need increases with intense physical activity, pregnancy
Peculiarities: When following a vegan diet, it is mandatory to take vitamins or foods enriched with B12. It is highly advisable to consume separately from B1, C, Fe (iron) and Cu (copper), as they convert B12 into an inactive form

C (ascorbic acid), B

Daily rate: 70-100 mg (for an absolutely healthy person), maximum - 2000 mg
Sources: rose hip, bell pepper, kiwi, wild garlic, citrus
The need increases with intense physical activity, stress, colds and infectious diseases, pregnancy, unfavorable environmental conditions, harsh climate,

Low productivity and general malaise are all signs. If a person has a deficiency of vitamins, the symptoms of this phenomenon will not take long to appear. Clinical manifestations directly depend on the state of the body, its individual characteristics and deficiency of one or another useful component. Experienced experts have collected up-to-date information about the signs of vitamin deficiency and how vitamin deficiency affects a person’s appearance.

How to identify the problem yourself

Signs of vitamin deficiency are especially common in the autumn and winter periods. Useful components are building materials for the whole body. Their deficiency negatively affects the functioning of organs and systems, worsens the general condition and affects appearance. Without useful components, it is impossible to imagine the normal functioning of metabolic processes and nerve impulses. How to identify vitamin deficiencies yourself? A deficiency of useful components will be indicated by the condition of the hair, nails, skin and organs of vision.

Hair Appearance

A lack of vitamins in the body affects the general appearance of the hair. A healthy person is proud of shiny, bouncy and flowing hair. They shimmer in the sun and attract admiring glances. With a deficiency of useful components, the condition of the curls worsens, they become brittle, dry, and the ends become split. Long-term use of masks and specialized products does not allow the hair structure to be normalized. This is due to the presence of a serious problem that is localized inside the body.

People often notice itchy scalp and dandruff. All this points to useful components of group B.

Nail condition

A lack of vitamins in the body also negatively affects the condition of the nail plates. Healthy nails are even, smooth, without hangnails or cracks. If there is an internal problem, the nail plate constantly delaminates, and the appearance of white spots and yellowness is possible. The presented symptoms indicate a lack of components C, A and E. It is possible that a lack of B vitamins also plays an important role in this process.

Skin condition

Skin is a mirror of the internal state of the body. Hypovitaminosis instantly affects the skin, showering it with acne and pimples. Signs of deficiency are frequent inflammation, the appearance of wrinkles and excessive dryness of the skin. It is impossible to eliminate the consequences of a lack of useful components with creams and other care products. Specialized specialists can restore the structure of the skin vitamin complexes wide spectrum of action.

Signs of vitamin deficiency include the appearance of brown spots and moles. People often notice a change in skin tone. Replenishing the deficiency of components E, A, B and C will help to cope with the problem.

The whole truth is in the eyes

Finally, symptoms of vitamin deficiency are reflected in the human visual organs. Standard manifestations of a negative process include the appearance of spots before the eyes. They can occur with any physical activity, which indicates persistent.

If a person observes a decrease in vision sharpness in the evening, experts recommend replenishing retinol reserves. With frequent inflammatory processes, a burning sensation and the presence of foreign objects in the eyes, it is necessary to fill the body with B vitamins.

General health

Experts identify a lot of signs of a lack of vitamins and microelements.

These include:

• constant dry lips ;
• the appearance of pustules and inflammation on the mucous membranes ;
• formation of a whitish coating on the tongue ;
• bleeding gums ;
• loss of appetite ;
• systematic surges in blood pressure ;
• feeling of heaviness in the limbs ;
• episodic headaches .

If the symptoms described above develop, it is advisable to visit a medical facility. Timely consultation with a specialist and testing allows you to determine the deficiency of useful components. Based on the data obtained, an experienced doctor prescribes comprehensive treatment. It is based on adjusting the daily diet and consuming specialized vitamin complexes.

Symptoms of vitamin deficiency by category

The lack of each element provokes the development of certain clinical manifestations. From this point of view, it is advisable to consider each component individually.

A

Hypovitaminosis caused by a lack of retinol provokes visual impairment. It becomes difficult for a person to navigate in the dark. The skin also suffers, experiencing constant rashes and dryness. In acute cases, appetite decreases and fatigue increases. Hair becomes dull, dry and brittle. A person rapidly loses weight and often suffers from colds and viral infections.

WITH

Deficiency increases the body's susceptibility to colds. People faced with this problem suffer from frequent skin rashes, herpes and inflammatory processes.

The main signs of ascorbic acid deficiency include frequent shortness of breath, bleeding gums, low hemoglobin levels, joint diseases and slow wound healing. Women suffering from a lack of vitamin C have difficulty breastfeeding.

E

The most unpleasant consequence of the deficiency is the inability to bear a child normally. Women suffer from frequent miscarriages; moreover, there remains a high probability of premature birth.

With a lack of tocopherol, the development of anemia and, as a consequence of this process, disruption of the functioning of the visual organs cannot be ruled out. The development of cramps, tingling and burning in the lower extremities is possible.

TO

Deficiency in adults is accompanied by bleeding wounds. This is due to a violation of the blood clotting process. People suffer from nosebleeds and internal bleeding, and it is possible that it may appear in the urine.

D

Calciferol deficiency is accompanied by softening of bone elements. is responsible for the normal absorption of calcium; if there is a lack of this element, the risk of damage to joints and curvature of the spine remains. This also includes an unstable emotional state.

IN

The deficiency is accompanied by increased fatigue, weakness, loss of strength and constant irritability. Some people experience suicidal thoughts. It is noteworthy that the early appearance of gray hair is a consequence of a lack of these compounds.

Minor symptoms include skin problems, low hemoglobin levels, loss of appetite and problems with sleep and wakefulness. The digestive system responds negatively to the lack of a component, which is accompanied by constipation and indigestion.

An integrated approach to solving the problem

To determine the quantitative content of vitamins and microelements in the body, a person needs to take a blood test. If there is a lack of important components, disturbances in the composition of the main blood elements are recorded.

The material for analysis can be not only blood, but also hair, nails, and urine. The vitamin determination test takes about one business day. If it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive analysis, it takes about 6 working days to determine the level of useful components.

If the study is aimed at studying quantitative blood parameters, the person must come to the laboratory in the morning. The test is taken on an empty stomach and does not require any special preparation. Results are available the next day. According to the data provided, the specialist prescribes treatment.

It is important to remember that determining the level of beneficial components in the body is not a mandatory procedure. This is done at the request of the person himself.

A complete, balanced diet can provide the full range of essential vitamins and minerals.

But in real life, keeping track of all the substances necessary for health is not at all easy. Knowing what you lack or what is present in excess in your body is already half the victory. Watch what your body is saying...

Sometimes we feel bad for no apparent reason and our performance is at zero. We often think that poor health is caused by a lack of vitamins, and therefore we go to the nearest pharmacy for a multivitamin preparation. But how do you understand which vitamins are missing?

Vitamins

Everyone knows that vitamins are special substances that have no calories and are not building materials for the body. But they perform a number of important functions of the body - they maintain metabolism at the proper level, monitor the work of enzymes, stimulate metabolic processes, the transmission of nerve impulses, and much more.

In a word, they bring a state of harmony to the body. But this is only when they enter the body in the required quantity. However, how do you understand that there is a vitamin deficiency in the body?

The most correct way

It's best to get tested. But we are usually busy at work or other things. The doctor also according to you appearance and your complaints, determine the typical manifestations of hypovitaminosis - this is what is called in medicine a state of vitamin deficiency. There are several typical external symptoms, based on which even a non-doctor can notice the problem.

Your hair

If the body is healthy, the hair looks shiny, it is elastic, literally flows over the shoulders and shimmers in the sun. If the hair begins to look like a tuft of straw, does not hold its shape in the hairstyle, becomes tangled, split ends, they have faded and even nourishing masks cannot save them - this is one of the signs of a lack of vitamins.

Dry and itchy scalp is a sign of vitamin E deficiency, and if dermatitis appears on the scalp, then also retinol (vitamin A); or a deficiency of B vitamins, which help nourish the scalp and conduct nerve impulses to the skin.

If your hair is excessively oily, you need to think about a riboflavin deficiency, and if it is severely falling out, you usually lack folic acid or vitamin C. Dandruff appears with a deficiency of vitamins B12 and B6 or unsaturated fatty acids.

In addition, hair suffers from a deficiency of minerals - especially iron and calcium.

Your nails

Healthy nails grow well and have an even color, smooth, and the skin of the periungual bed is pale pink, without cracks or hangnails.

If your nails bend, peel, crack across or along the nail, grow poorly and look pale, turn yellow - most likely this indicates a deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Deep hangnails indicate a lack of vitamin A or vitamin E, and if your fingers are numb, most likely you should make up for the deficiency of B vitamins.

Your skin

The skin is generally a “mirror” of vitamin deficiency; it reflects manifestations of a deficiency of almost all substances classified in one way or another as vitamins.

• Dry skin on the face, the appearance of wrinkles - small and larger, pale skin - is a consequence of a deficiency of vitamins E or A, nicotinic acid.
• Oily skin and flaking may indicate a deficiency of vitamin B2; acne and red spots are a deficiency of fatty acids and, along with them, fat-soluble vitamins. If allergic and other types of dermatitis are frequent, this is a problem with B vitamins and vitamin H (biotin). If there is a deficiency, there may also be manifestations of hyperpigmentation on the skin - the appearance of brown spots and moles.
• A yellowish tint to the skin indicates vitamin B12 deficiency.

The skin of the body also signals problems with vitamins - the appearance of dryness and goose bumps on the hips and shoulders indicates a lack of vitamins A and E, and long-term non-healing bruises, especially in the area of ​​​​the legs and forearms, indicate problems with the blood vessels of the skin due to rutin deficiency ( vitamin P) and vitamin C.

Itchy skin dermatoses with excessive dryness are caused by vitamin B deficiency, especially B3 or B6, in combination with a lack of iodine.

your eyes

With a lack of vitamins, problems also occur with the eyes - common manifestations of a lack of vitamins are the flashing of spots before the eyes, especially with sudden movements. Vitamin D deficiency is usually to blame.

When twilight vision is weakened (when you have difficulty seeing and orienting yourself in the dark), there is usually a lack of vitamin A. In addition, symptoms of a deficiency of these same vitamins can be frequent eye inflammation and eyelids, feeling of sand and burning in the eyes, especially in the evening, frequent manifestation of styes. Circles under the eyes may also develop and blood vessels may appear - add vitamins P and B to your diet.

Your overall health

There are many more signs of vitamin deficiency that the body signals to us in one way or another:

• lips become very dry or crack, pustules appear in the corners of the mouth,
• the oral mucosa turns pale, the gums may bleed, a whitish coating forms on the tongue,
• appetite suffers - it can be selective, or it can simply decrease,
• a person with a lack of vitamins often gets sick, he has jumpslaziness, the tips of the fingers on the hands tremble, in the evening the legs hurt and swell, they can “hum”,
• episodes occur frequently headache, insomnia, the person is irritable and picky towards people, has trouble remembering dates and events.

In such cases, we are not talking about a deficiency of a specific vitamin, since many of them take part in metabolic processes.
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Summarize...

Visible signs of deficiency and excess of vitamins

Hands

Cold hands: lack of magnesium, decreased thyroid function, chronic fatigue and decreased heart performance.

Leather

Stretch marks: zinc deficiency

keratinization: lack of vitamin A

Spontaneous bleeding: lack of vitamins C or K or platelets

Dry scaly skin with red rings around hair follicles: lack of vitamin C

Yellow palms: excess beta carotene

"Goose pimples": lack of essential fatty acids

Legs

Sore calf muscles: magnesium deficiency

Brisk knee reflex: magnesium deficiency

Heart

Irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, cardiomegaly: magnesium and coferent Q deficiency or caffeine sensitivity

Throat

Thyroid enlargement: iodine deficiency, decreased thyroid function

Nails

White spots: lack of minerals, most often zinc

Wavy furrows: zinc deficiency

Soft brittle nails: magnesium deficiency

Crumbling nails: general lack of minerals in the body

Skin on the face

Oily red flaky skin on the face and sides of the nose: lack of vitamin B2

Seborrheic dermatitis around the nose and acne-like rash on the forehead: lack of vitamin B6

Eyes

Cataract: lack of chromium or excess free radicals

Bags and dark circles under the eyes: allergy or intolerance to some product

Bluish tint to the whites of the eyes and early graying of hair: lack of vitamin B12 or deficiency anemia

Oral cavity

Pale cracked tongue: iron deficiency

Painful cracked tongue: lack of vitamin B3

Painful tongue and burning sensation and peeling lips: lack of vitamin B2

Swollen tongue with dents from teeth: intolerance to some product

Smooth painful tongue: lack of folic acid

Chapped lips: lack of vitamin B2, stomatitis

And definitely

If such symptoms appear, it’s time to visit your general practitioner or family doctor, and only together with him, having weeded out some diseases that can manifest themselves in a similar way, choose a complex of vitamins for yourself and the form of taking them - tablets, capsules or even injections.

At first glance, a deficiency of vitamins in the human body may seem like a minor deviation from the norm, manifested in external changes (poor condition of the skin, hair, sticky lips, peeling nails, cramped legs), as well as a loss of strength (want to sleep, no mood) , neurosis and depression).

Such an external reaction indicates internal changes that occur in vital organs and entire systems. Over time, this can lead to the development of serious diseases such as anemia, infertility, acobaltism, anorexia, thyroid disease, neurasthenia, and rickets.

Almost all vitamins and microelements are interconnected, some contribute to fermentation, others to the absorption of a number of them in the body useful substances. Therefore, the loss of one element from this chain leads to disruption of many body functions.

You can determine which vitamins your body lacks by a set of external signs that appear first. In other cases, the body itself makes it clear that there is a lack of specific elements by changing food habits, for example, if you constantly want sweet or salty foods.

Nail problems

Brittle and yellowish nails indicate that the body has an acute lack of vitamin C, as well as calcium. Vitamin C is not only an excellent antioxidant, but is also directly involved in the synthesis of collagen - the building material of bones, ligaments, skin, and nails. With a deficiency of ascorbic acid, not only nails peel, but also gums bleed, skin peels, bruises and scratches do not heal for a long time, and hangnails appear on the fingers. With an acute shortage, the development of the disease scurvy, characteristic of long-distance sailors, as well as northern peoples, is possible.

Smoking can affect the amount of ascorbic acid in the body, since nicotine and heavy tars destroy vitamin C. In order to replenish the destroyed vitamin after smoking one cigarette, you will need to eat 2 apples or half a sweet pepper.

Most vitamin C is found in fresh vegetables, citrus fruits, herbs and fruits, but since ascorbic acid is quickly destroyed by heat treatment, they must be consumed raw.

A lack of calcium is manifested by nails peeling, becoming brittle, and white stripes appearing on the plates. For better absorption of calcium in the body, it is necessary to consume foods rich in vitamin D, as well as magnesium. A deficiency of these elements, even with regular consumption of calcium-rich foods, nullifies all efforts.

Hair loss

Brittle, split ends and dull hair can indicate a lack of B vitamins, as well as iodine, selenium and biotin. If dandruff, dry skin appears, and there are pockets in the corners of the lips and muscle cramps, there is a deficiency of vitamin F (a collective name for polyunsaturated acids). To eliminate such symptoms, it is necessary to introduce sunflower seeds, sea fish, seafood, and flax seeds into the diet.

Premature gray hair, poor nail and hair growth, such symptoms indicate a deficiency of manganese and vitamin B5 in the body.

To replenish B vitamins, you should include cereals, legumes, eggs, spinach, and beef liver in your diet.

Vitamin deficiency of the skin

The skin is also an indicator of health and with a lack of vitamins involved in regeneration, renewal and restoration of water-lipid balance, manifestations of its deficiencies are possible, such as:

• Dry skin that flakes on the nose and forehead, the corners of the lips become chapped, and seals form on the lips - a deficiency of vitamins C, A, PP.
• Dermatitis, rash, cracked corners of the lips, hangnails appear on the fingers - lack of vitamin B3, B2, D, F, H.
• The appearance of pigment spots on the skin, sagging sagging, dry skin on the lips - a lack of vitamin E.
• The appearance of small blood vessels on the skin, gray complexion - the body lacks vitamins K, H, A, C.
• Sometimes blemishes on the skin appear due to severe constipation, and those, in turn, are the result of a lack of B vitamins.

A lack of certain vitamins leads to poor absorption of potassium, calcium, cobalt, zinc and copper, this is immediately reflected in the functioning of all organs and manifests itself in changes in skin oiliness, the appearance of acne, vitiligo, cracked heels, peeling corners of nails. For a more detailed diagnosis, you should contact a specialist who will determine the true cause of vitamin deficiency - unbalanced nutrition or inability to be absorbed by the body.

Visual impairment

Redness of the conjunctiva, often inflamed and sour inner corners of the eyes, the formation of barley, as well as itching, rashes in the eyes, blurred vision indicate an acute lack of vitamin A (beta-carotene).

This substance can be found in fresh vegetables and fruits of yellow and orange color, such as pumpkin, carrots, apricots, as well as in liver. Beta carotene is a fat-soluble vitamin, so for its absorption it is necessary to combine foods rich in vitamin A with vegetable or milk fats.

Changes in the oral cavity

Often, to find out the diagnosis, the doctor asks the patient to open his mouth, and the purpose of such an examination is not always the tonsils; based on the condition of the mucous membrane, tongue and gum tissue, the specialist will immediately determine which vitamin is missing in the body.

• Redness of the tongue – B9, B6.
• Sticking on the lips, swelling of the tongue – B2.
• The corners of the lips crack, the mucous membrane of the tongue - C, N, RR.
• Gums are bleeding – C, D.

Muscle weakness cramps

If your legs often cramp, cramps occur, there may be a lack of potassium in the body, or a deficiency of vitamins B1 and B6. You can get rid of such symptoms if you enrich your menu with products such as yeast, nuts, legumes, whole grain bread, brown rice, cereals, and sea fish.

If your legs swell significantly at the end of the day, stars and varicose veins appear, you also want to sleep all the time, there is a loss of strength and a decrease in appetite, the body lacks cobalt, which is contained in active form in vitamin B12 (cobalamin). This microelement is available when consuming liver, grains and beans, as well as greens and dairy products. It is also recommended to eat a lot of greens rich in vitamin B9 (folic acid).

Nervous system disorders

Many vitamins are involved in the synthesis of mediators of the nervous system, so their lack can affect not only external manifestations, such as hangnails on the fingers and jams on the lips, but also on a person’s well-being.

With an acute lack of vitamins B12, B9, B5, frequent depression, nervous breakdowns, and insomnia are possible. With a deficiency of vitamin E, nervousness is noticed, and in the absence of magnesium, women's libido decreases, irritability appears and they constantly want to sleep. A critical deficiency of certain elements can lead to pathological changes and cause more serious diseases, such as prolonged depression, schizophrenia.

Changes in taste

In some cases, the body itself lets you know about the presence of a deficiency of any useful substances by changing taste preferences. You can find out which vitamins or microelements are missing by the following signs:

• If you want sweets, the body lacks chromium, magnesium and phosphorus, vitamins A and E. The consequences can be dry skin on the lips, the corners of the mouth are decorated with jams, nails peel and become brittle. To replenish the reserves of these substances, it is recommended to eat broccoli, liver, hard cheese, spinach, and pumpkin seeds.
• If you constantly want to eat, tryptophan, which is found in bananas, dates, dairy products and meat, is not enough.
• If you want fatty foods, there is a lack of calcium and D3. This can lead to peeling nails, demineralization of bones and teeth, and growth retardation in children. You can save the situation by introducing calcium-rich foods into the menu (dairy products, legumes, broccoli), as well as vitamin D and magnesium.
• If you want flour, there is a deficiency of fat and nitrogen. This can lead to depression, neuroses, muscle and kidney pain. The first symptoms are that a person lacks strength, constantly wants to sleep, and coldness in the extremities. To replenish nitrogen reserves, and at the same time fats, you should consume plant and animal proteins, soy, eggs, and cottage cheese.

It should be noted that the presence of such signs as dry skin, peeling nails, hair loss, against the background of problems with the gastrointestinal tract, is explained by the fact that the deficiency of microelements and vitamins is not caused by a poor diet, but by the inability of these same substances in food to be well absorbed. Before you go to the pharmacy for multivitamins or load up on vegetables and fruits, you should visit a doctor and solve your stomach problems.