Vitamin deficiency is commonly seen in many malnutrition diseases.
Vitamin A
Deficiency of vitamin A is relatively common in developing countries.
Symptoms And Signs—
- Night blindness
- Complete blindness
- Increased susceptibility to infections
- Lack of appetite
- Dry and rough skin and hair
- Poor wound healing
Treatment—
Eat foods rich in vitamin A in the diet.
- Animal livers are among the richest sources of vitamin A.
- Cod liver oil
- Sweet potato
- Carrots are rich in beta carotene
- Beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein and Vitamin A
- Spinach and Broccoli are another healthful sources of vitamin A
- Mangos are rich in antioxidants, dietary fiber and Vitamin A
- Pumpkin is rich in beta carotene.
- Tomatoes and tomato juice contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which benefit eye health also.
Vitamin B1
Causes—
Alcoholism
Symptoms And Signs–
- Manifestation of beriberi; nervous system disorder
- Severe lethargy
- Fatigue
- Inability to derive energy
- Difficulty in walking
- Loss of muscle with muscle wasting
Treatment–
- Administration of thiamine in the form of thiamine hydrochloride tablets or injections.
- B1 rich diet( like yeast and pork)
- Ayurvedic Medicines(Safojas capsules or syrup,Cap Papagil)
Vitamin B2
Causes—
- Protein-energy malnutrition diseases
- Alcohol
Signs And Symptoms —
- Sore throat
- Swelling
- Redness of the mouth
- Cheilosis
- Angular stomatitis
- Glossitis
- Seborrhic dermatitis
Treatment—
Foods rich in riboflavin, like meat, eggs, cheese, yogurt..
Vitamin B3
Deficiency of vitamin B3, or niacin, leads to pellagra.
Causes-—
- Alterations of protein metabolism in the body
- Staple diet of maize.
Signs And Symptoms–
- Alopecia
- Ataxia
- Dementia
- Dermatitis
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Photosensitivity
- Weakness
Treatment—
Niacin rich foods in the diet like,
- Liver
- Chicken
- Tuna
- Turkey
- Salmon
- Peanuts
- Avocado
- Whole-wheat products, such as whole-wheat bread and pasta
- Mushrooms
- Green peas
- Potatoes
Complication—
Person can die within four to five years of being diagnosed.
Vitamin B12
Causes—
Pure vegetarian diet
Signs And Symptoms—
- Headaches resembling migraine attacks
- Megaloblastic anemia.
- Memory loss
- Mouth sores
- Shortness of breath
- Tingling sensation of tongue
- White spots on skin
Treatment–
- Diet constituting animal product food,if possible
- B12 supplement
- Ayurvedic Medicines
Vitamin C
Deficiency of vitamin C is seen in developing countries. Deficiency of this vitamin leads to scurvy.
Symptoms And Signs—
- Bleeding gums
- Delayed wound healing
- Increased susceptibility to infections
- Spots on skin
Treatment—
Vitamin C can be obtained by eating fruits like oranges, lemon, amla, lime, grapefruit.
Vitamin D
Causes—
- Inadequate intake of calcium
- Inadequate sunlight exposure
Symptoms And Signs-
- Impaired bone formation
- Bone softening diseases like osteomalacia
- Osteoporosis in women
Treatment–
- Diet high in calcium, like milk,yogurt, Sardine, Canned Salmon, Beans and Lentils, Almonds, Whey Protein, Leafy Green vegetables.
- Ayurvedic medicines, Sanoric capsules, Vednapil capsules, Kushagra capsules and syrup.