Avitaminosis (vitamin Deficiency): Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
Vitamin deficiency or avitaminosis is the lack of vitamins in the body, produced by poor absorption by the organism or by the lack of ingestion of these in the form of food or supplements. Vitamins are necessary for the proper functioning of the body and are present in food in general, especially in fruits and vegetables.
The best way to obtain the vitamins that the body requires for its proper functioning is by eating a healthy and balanced diet, preferably including fresh and organic foods. However, vitamin supplementation with tablets is also an option to prevent or treat vitamin deficiency and its consequences. It is important to keep in mind that the consumption of vitamin complexes should not replace a good diet or be consumed without medical supervision.
Symptoms of vitamin deficiency
The symptoms of vitamin deficiency in the body are very varied because they depend on the missing vitamin, as well as on the intensity of the vitamin deficiency. Some typical signs and symptoms of avitaminosis are:
To diagnose avitaminosis-related diseases, in addition to the symptoms and the patient’s medical history, clinical tests are available to accurately determine the deficient vitamin in the organism causing the disease.
Main causes of vitamin deficiency
The lack of vitamins can be produced by the ingestion of a diet with little variation in food, as in the case of people who do not like to eat many fruits or vegetables, which are the source foods of vitamins, called regulatory foods, which maintain the proper functioning of the organism and prevent the development of some diseases that may be a consequence of avitaminosis.
Another possible cause of vitamin deficiency in the body may be the lack of absorption of nutrients. In this case, in spite of having been ingested food sources of vitamins, the organism is unable to absorb them, producing an avitaminosis. In the case of people who consume a lot of laxatives, for example, or fiber, these do not allow the bacteria in the intestine to properly ferment the fecal bolus and absorb the vitamins.
In some cases, digestive deficiency due to the lack of certain enzymes can also cause avitaminosis, so it is important that a specialized health professional evaluates the origin of the vitamin deficiency.
Diseases caused by vitamin deficiency
Some diseases that are caused by a lack of vitamins and minerals can cause:
To combat these diseases, the best way is through prevention with a diet rich in meats, fish, vegetables, vegetables and fruits.
Treatment of avitaminosis
The best treatment for vitamin deficiency is supplementation with vitamins in tablets or injections, as in the case of pellagra or night blindness. However, to reverse symptoms of mild vitamin deficiency, such as hair loss or dry skin, an individualized diet to correct the deficiency is often recommended. Learn more about night blindness and how it is treated.
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