• Home
• >
• Health Articles
• >
• Causes, Harms, and Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiency

Causes, Harms, and Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiency

Have you always been a picky eater? Does your busy lifestyle mean you often don’t get the ideal nutrition you should? Do you have bad eating habits and sometimes find yourself binge eating due to stress? Do you experience symptoms of vitamin deficiency, such as chronic fatigue? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may not be getting enough of the vitamins your body needs.

Vitamins are essential nutrients that the body needs in small amounts to sustain life. Since vitamins are absorbed by the body from our everyday food, we should receive our daily intake of all the types of vitamins through a well-balanced and healthy diet of milk and other dairy products like yoghurt and cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables, proteins such as chicken, fish, eggs and meat and whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal. Of course, the purer the source of all these food types, the better, so if you can access organic, unprocessed, or free-range food products, always opt for these choices. 

People with medical conditions related to the digestive system or asthma, active adults who play physically demanding sports and people who smoke or those who for years have consumed sugary carbonated drinks might also require vitamin supplements.

However, you should always consult a qualified nutritionist or GP before starting any vitamin regimen.

First, The Types of Vitamins

Vitamins are divided into two types: water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins: Water-Soluble and Fat-Soluble Vitamins. There are two categories of vitamins: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins (such as A, D, E, and K) can be stored in the body, while water-soluble vitamins (like vitamins C and B) cannot. The body passes out excess water-soluble vitamins that it doesn’t use, making it important to replenish these vitamins.

 

Vitamin Deficiency Causes

Vitamin deficiency can occur due to several factors, whether related to diet or certain health conditions. The leading causes of vitamin deficiency include:

• Poor nutrition: Not consuming enough fruits, vegetables, or foods rich in essential vitamins.
• Absorption issues: Conditions like celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease can affect the body’s ability to absorb vitamins effectively.
• Limited diets: People following strict or vegan diets may suffer from deficiencies in certain vitamins like B12.
• Medications: Some medications, such as antacids or cancer treatments, may interfere with vitamin absorption.
• Chronic health conditions: Diseases like diabetes, liver, or kidney problems may affect the body’s ability to store or utilize vitamins properly.

Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiency

Vitamin deficiency can present with various symptoms depending on which vitamin is missing. These symptoms can be mild or severe and, in some cases, may lead to serious health complications. Some common symptoms of vitamin deficiency include:

• General fatigue: Deficiencies in vitamins like D or B12 can cause persistent tiredness.
• Hair loss: Lack of vitamins like biotin or D can lead to hair loss.
• Dry skin: Deficiencies in vitamins A or E can cause dry skin.
• Weakened immune system: Lack of vitamins like C or D can weaken the body’s ability to fight infections.
• Vision problems: Vitamin A deficiency can lead to vision issues like night blindness.
• Mood swings: Deficiencies in vitamins like B6 or B12 can cause mood changes or even depression.

 

Here, we mention the benefits and symptoms of deficiency for each vitamin separately:

Vitamin A

The benefits: Promotes tissue and bone repair, development and normal growth, immune responses, and healthy eyes and skin.

Symptoms of deficiency: Tiredness, hair loss, weakness, weight loss, dry eyes, scaling of the skin, and respiratory infections.

Vitamin B6

The benefits: Helps the body break down protein and maintain the health of red blood cells, the nervous system, and parts of the immune system.

Symptoms of deficiency: Diarrhea, anemia, weakness, irritability, and seizures. Vitamin B6 deficiency may also contribute to inattention, impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and temper tantrums.

Vitamin B12

The benefits: Supports the body’s growth and development, blood cell production, and brain and nervous system function.

Symptoms of deficiency: Abdominal pain, oedema, weakness, insomnia, and, in some cases, loss of voice.

Vitamin C

The benefits: It serves as an antioxidant for the growth and repair of all body tissues and encourages healthy muscles and skin.

Symptoms of deficiency: Easy bruising, joint pain, dry skin and poor appetite. Frequent nose bleeds, infections, and illness can also be traced back to a vitamin C deficiency.

Vitamin D

The benefits: Aids in bone health and formation of teeth by helping the body absorb calcium. Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem.

Symptoms of deficiency: Irritability, poor growth, and muscle cramps. Poor immunity, breathing difficulties, and even seizures can also be traced back to insufficient vitamin D.

Vitamin E

The benefits: Protects red blood cells and helps prevent the destruction of vitamins A and C. It is most known for its antioxidant function but also helps enzymatic activities, gene expression, and neurological function.

Symptoms of deficiency: Poor growth, nerve damage, chronic liver disease, and muscle weakness. Generally, Vitamin E deficiency is rare. 

Treatment for Vitamin Deficiency

Treatment for vitamin deficiency depends on identifying the missing vitamin and the severity of the deficiency. Treatment may include dietary changes or the use of supplements. Common treatment methods for vitamin deficiency include:

• Dietary adjustment: Consume foods rich in the missing vitamins. For example, eating foods high in vitamin D, such as fatty fish, or taking supplements to ensure adequate intake of this vitamin.

• Dietary supplements: In cases of severe deficiency, a doctor may recommend using vitamin supplements to compensate for the shortage, such as vitamin B12 or vitamin D supplements.

• Treating underlying health conditions: If the vitamin deficiency is caused by a health issue, such as inflammatory bowel disease, treating these conditions can help improve vitamin absorption.

• Consulting a doctor: In some cases, a person may need medical supervision to monitor and determine the proper dosages of supplements or foods.

Vitamin toxicity

If you suspect any of these signs point to a deficiency, check with your physician before administering extra vitamins to avoid an overdose. Taking large doses of certain vitamins can actually be harmful. For most people, it is best to get the vitamins the body needs from eating a variety of healthy, unprocessed foods rather than from supplements.

Vitamin Type and Sources

Foods Rich in Vitamins

• Vitamin A: Eggs, cheese, milk, sweet potatoes, carrots, and squash.

• Vitamin B (B2, B3, B6, & B12): Meat, fish, chicken, milk, eggs, nuts, beans, cheese, and soya beans.

• Vitamin C: Capsicums (sweet peppers), strawberries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, kiwi, and green vegetables like broccoli.

• Vitamin D: Sunlight, yoghurt, milk, cheese, egg yolks, tofu, and calcium-fortified orange juice.

• Vitamin E: Avocados, nuts, asparagus, vegetable oil, corn, and leafy vegetables.