Vitamin Deficiencies Diseases: Causes, Symptoms, and More!

Today’s blog is an information guide to vitamin deficiency diseases to help you improve nutrient deficiencies in the body and live longer. So keep reading! 

What are deficiency diseases?

Diseases that occur due to the deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals in your diet for longer than expected are termed deficiency diseases.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals help the body to function properly. There are thirteen vitamins, most of which our body does not produce. They perform a specific function, and their deficiency can cause serious health problems. 

Minerals such as iron, copper, iodine, magnesium, and zinc are essential for physical and mental well-being. They are required in balanced amounts; however, prolonged and unattended inadequacy can cause several health disorders. 

List of deficiency diseases: You may like to know

Below is a list of major deficiency diseases due to inadequate minerals and vitamins. Have a look! 

Types of Vitamins	Deficiency Diseases
Vitamin A (retinol)	Night blindness, complications in your heart, skin, and lungs.
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)	Beri-beri
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)	Bad skin, stunted growth
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)	Anemia
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)	Scurvy
Vitamin D (calciferol)	Rickets
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	Excessive bleeding, poor bone development, osteoporosis, and increased CVD diseases.

 

Types of Minerals	Deficiency Diseases
Calcium	Brittle bones, significant bleeding.
Phosphorus	Loss of appetite, anxiety, and bad teeth
Iron	Anemia
Iodine	Thyroid, Goitre
Copper	Lightened patches of skin, high cholesterol in the blood.

Most common deficiency diseases 

Vitamin D, vitamin B12, and vitamin B9 are the most common deficiency diseases. Approximately 75% of Indians suffer from these deficiency diseases. 

Vitamin Deficiency	Percentage %
Vitamin D	80%
Vitamin B12	21.02%
Vitamin B9	15.06%

Did you know?

Approximately 84% of pregnant women are vitamin D deficient, which is a serious concern. 

What are different types of deficiency diseases?

There are four different types of deficiency diseases: 

• Vitamin Deficiency Diseases
• Mineral Deficiency Diseases
• Protein Deficiency Diseases
• Calorie Deficiency Diseases

Here is a table showing the difference between deficiency diseases, causes, and symptoms: 

Vitamin Deficiency Diseases	Causes	Symptoms
The lack of vitamins in the body leads to vitamin deficiency diseases.	Insufficient red blood cells (RBCs), vitamin B12, and folate.	Fatigue, dry skin, depression, shortness of breath, mouth pain, and depression.

 

Mineral Deficiency Diseases	Causes	Symptoms
These deficiencies occur due to inadequate absorption of minerals in the body.	Lack of minerals in the diet such as calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc, and chloride	Decreased immune system, irregular heartbeat, loss of appetite, numbness, nausea, and vomiting

 

Protein Deficiency Diseases	Causes	Symptoms
Its main reason is that your body lacks protein.	Lower protein quality of foods, underlying infections, or disease.	Swelling, stunted growth, weakened immune system, and skin and hair changes.

 

Calorie Deficiency Diseases	Causes	Symptoms
It occurs due to inadequate calorie intake.	Fewer calories intake.	Fatigue, getting ill more often, skin problems, reproductive difficulties, impaired growth.

Let’s discover vitamin deficiency diseases in detail, including causes and prevention tips. 

Vitamin Deficiency Diseases

Our body doesn’t produce vitamins in sufficient amounts. Hence, getting it from other sources is vital for the proper functioning of the body. However, a lack of vitamins results in vitamin deficiency diseases. 

Here are some vitamins and the deficiency diseases caused by them: 

Also Read: https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/vitamin/understanding-vitamin-deficiency-a-comprehensive-guide/

Vitamin A is an important factor that performs several functions in the body, from a healthy vision to the immune system, reproduction, and growth. 

Additionally, vitamin A deficiency can cause several complications, from dryness or itchy skin to trouble conceiving and infertility, a poor immune system unable to protect you against infections, delayed growth and development in children, and respiratory disorders. 

• Symptoms of Vitamin A deficiency: Inflammatory bowel disease, night blindness, xerophthalmia, dried conjunctiva on the eye, cirrhosis, measles, and chronic gastrointestinal infection.
• Sources of vitamin A: Foods that can help meet your vitamin A requirements include carrots, spinach, milk, eggs, liver, and fish. 

Vitamin B: This vitamin is divided into different parts, such as vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, etc. Deficiency of different vitamin B types can cause several health problems. 

a) Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): It is essential for healthy muscle, heart, and nerve function. A lack of vitamin B1 can cause problems such as beri-beri, which occurs due to weak muscles and severe weight loss. 

• Symptoms of vitamin B1 deficiency: loss of appetite, short-term memory, paralysis, feelings of vertigo, confusion, cardiac problems, or may affect the cardiovascular, nervous and immune system. 
• Sources of vitamin B1: Peas, whole grain breads, fresh fruits such as bananas and oranges, liver, and nuts. 

b) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): It is one of the 8B vitamins that performs various tasks. It helps with migraines and headaches. 

• Symptoms of vitamin B2 deficiency: swollen throat, blurred vision, liver degeneration, reproductive issues, depression, hair loss, skin cracks, and itching. 
• Sources of vitamin B2: Almonds, organ meats, soybeans, mushrooms, wild rice, whole grains, wheat germ, and brewer’s yeast. 

c) Vitamin B6: It is an important vitamin required for the normal functioning of the brain and also contributes to keeping your nervous system and the immune system healthy. 

• Symptoms of vitamin B6 deficiency: Skin disorders, depression, nervous breakdown, tongue issues, such as glossitis, change in mental status, and anemia. 
• Sources of vitamin B6: lean meats, poultry, eggs, seafood, nuts and seeds, and soy products. 

d) Vitamin B9 (Folate): This vitamin B type helps make red blood cells, and is responsible for healthy cell growth and function. Besides, folate B-9 also helps the neural tube, minimizing the chances of birth defects of the brain and spine. 

• Symptoms of vitamin B9 deficiency: weakness, fatigue, soreness and ulcers on the tongue, changes in hair and nail pigmentation, difficulty concentrating, and headache. 
• Source of vitamin B9 (folate): Dark green leafy vegetables, fruits, juices, seafood, nuts and beans, eggs, dairy products, meat, poultry, and grains. 

Alsoread: https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/cancer/can-vitamin-b12-deficiency-be-a-sign-of-cancer/

e) Vitamin B12 helps in the making of DNA and red blood cells. Besides, it also contributes to the development of the central nervous system. 

• Symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency: fatigue, heart palpitations, weight loss, numbness and extreme tingling. 
• Sources of vitamin B12: beans, peas, lentils, nuts and seeds, lean meats, and soy products. 

Note: Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 are obtained from the same sources of food. However, the only difference between these two is that vitamin B6 is found in food products. Whereas, vitamin B12 is found in animal products. 

Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid is a water soluble vitamin and is found in some fruits and vegetables.

A lack of vitamin C in the body can cause scurvy. It makes your immune system weak and causes acute conditions. 

• Symptoms of vitamin C deficiency: bruise or bleed easily, poor wound healing, fatigue, small red spots on the skin, and swelling in joints. 
• Sources of vitamin C: Citrus fruits such as oranges and orange juice, strawberries, broccoli, brussel sprouts, potatoes, and blackcurrants. 

Vitamin D is essential for bone development and calcium absorption. A lack of vitamin D can cause rickets, which leads to bone weakness. 

• Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include muscle pain, bone pain, “pins-and-needles sensations in the hands or feet, weak upper arms and thighs, and waddling gait. 
• Sources of vitamin D: Fish such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel. Other sources of vitamin D include red meat, liver, egg yolks, and fortified milk. 

Vitamin K is a group of vitamins that helps in blood clot. Insufficient levels of vitamin D can cause rickets in babies and children. 

• Symptoms of vitamin K deficiency: Bleeding (hemorrhage) from the nose, wound in the stomach or intestine, or vomiting with blood. 
• Sources of vitamin K: green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, and turnip. Other vegetables include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, or brussels sprouts. Additionally, fish, liver, meat, eggs, and cereals also contribute to improving vitamin K deficiency. 

What are the common risks for vitamin deficiency diseases? 

An age factor, poor diet, insufficient sunlight, and underlying medical conditions are the most common risk factors associated with vitamin deficiency diseases. 

6 Helping Tips to Prevent Vitamin Deficiency

Below tips can help you mitigate complications related to vitamin deficiencies: 

1. Regular health-check-ups are important. 
2. Make necessary dietary changes with the help of an expert. 
3. Take supplements. 
4. Check your body weight. 
5. Avoid unhealthy eating and adopt a healthy lifestyle . 
6. Eat a nutrient-rich diet. 

Treatment 

Treatment for the vitamin and mineral deficiencies varies from person to person depending on the deficiency detected in the test. 

Your healthcare provider may suggest health supplements to keep your body healthy. 

Mineral and Vitamin Deficiency Test

The only way to know whether you are suffering from vitamin and mineral deficiency is to schedule a doctor’s visit and prevent serious side effects. 

Blood tests may be suggested to detect mineral and vitamin deficiencies in the body depending on your health condition. 

Did you know you can book a blood test with home sample collection convenience from Healthy India Ki Trusted Lab, Redcliffe Labs? Additionally, online test reports are available, ensuring accuracy and reliability in every test. 

Step-by-step information to book a vitamin and mineral deficiency blood test online from Redcliffe Labs. 

1. Visit official Redcliffe Labs website: https://redcliffelabs.com/ 
2. Browse or search for the specific test you need. 
3. Add the test to the cart. 
4. Complete the payment process online.
5. You will receive confirmation through SMS and Whatsapp.

Summary 

Deficiency diseases are relatively common worldwide. So, don’t worry. You are not alone in case you experience any signs of vitamin deficiency in the body such as fatigue, poor vision, breathing difficulties, joint and muscle pain, etc. 

Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables, an easy DIY method to improve the vitamin deficiency. However, it is important for a person to meet a medical professional to receive an accurate diagnosis from and begin the treatment.