When the body doesn’t consume or get enough of a nutrient from food, it’s called a nutritional deficiency. Deficiencies can cause a wide range of health issues. Examples include digestive problems, dermatological disorders, stunted or deficient bone formation, and dementia.
Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A is a collection of essential nutrients for both men’s and women’s eyes and reproductive health. It also helps to improve the immune system’s ability to fight infections. Vitamin A deficiency is the cause of avoidable blindness in infants, according to WHO. Pregnant women with low have a higher maternal mortality risk maternal mortality.
Other symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include:
- Dry eyes
- Night blindness
- Infertility
- Chest infections
- Acne
- Poor Growth
Preventing Vitamin A deficiency includes consuming adequate amounts of vitamin A-rich foods such as dark green leafy vegetables, milk, carrots, sweet potatoes, eggs, kale, and broccoli. Vitamin A supplements are also helpful.
Vitamin D Deficiency
According to studies, around 1 billion people do not get enough vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is more common in people with darker complexions. Vitamin D is necessary for strong bones. It aids the body in maintaining proper calcium levels to control tooth and bone growth. A shortage of this nutrient may cause bone growth to be stunted or low. Osteoporosis, a deficiency of vitamin D and Calcium, can result in porous, weak bones that are easily broken.
Just a few foods naturally contain vitamin D. Vitamin D-rich foods include:
- fatty acids from fish livers
- mushrooms made from fatty fish
- liver egg yolks
Vitamin D is added to United States dairy and plant milk products. Sunlight is the optimal source of vitamin D. 10 to 30 minutes of sun exposure on the face, neck, back, or arms twice a week will provide adequate vitamin D. Sunscreen, despite being recommended, inhibits vitamin D absorption through the skin. For maximum vitamin D absorption, spend a couple of minutes in the sun before applying sunscreen.
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium aids in the development of healthy bones and teeth. It also aids in the proper functioning of your cardiovascular system, nervous system, and muscles. Calcium deficiency sometimes goes unnoticed at first, but it can result in severe health issues in the long run. Your body can extract calcium through your bones rather than calcium from your diet if you don’t get enough calcium. Bone loss results as a consequence of this.
While some experts agree that calcium deficiency is linked to low bone mass and osteoporosis-related bone weakening, this is a hotly debated issue. Hip fractures are more prevalent in regions with higher calcium intake. A high-protein diet and lack of exercise in countries like the United States may result in poor calcium levels and blow to hormonal changes. Postmenopausal women lose more bone mass and have more difficulty consuming calcium. Convulsions and irregular heart rhythms may result from a calcium deficiency. These may also put your life ing calcium.
The following are the best calcium sources:
- Milk
- Cheese
- Tiny fish with bones
- Tofu
- Kale
- Broccoli
Thiamine (vitamin B-1)
Thiamine, often called vitamin B-1, is another widespread nutritional deficiency. It is essential for the proper functioning of your nerves. It also aids your body’s metabolism in converting carbohydrates to energy.
Thiamine deficiency can cause:
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Short-term memory loss
- Weight loss
Thiamine deficiency is quite common in people who drink too much alcohol in the United States. Alcohol impairs the body’s capacity to absorb thiamine, retain it in the liver, and transform it into a helpful type. Thiamine deficiency can cause nerve and muscle damage and heart problems. The Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is often caused by thiamine deficiency. It’s a degenerative brain disease. In the United States, thiamine is added to breakfast cereals and grain products.
Other good thiamine sources include:
- Legumes
- Nuts and seeds
- Pork
Cobalamin deficiency (vitamin B-12)
Vitamin B-12 is a vitamin that aids in the production of healthy red blood cells in the body. This vitamin deficiency is common in people who:
- have had gastric surgery
- are vegans
- are elderly
- have diabetes and take anti-diabetic medications, namely metformin (Glucophage)
- have a history of antacid usage
Intrinsic factor is a transport protein secreted by gastric cells. It binds to B-12 and transports it to the small bowel, where it can be absorbed. This is how B-12 is absorbed and used by the body. Intrinsic factor, which aids in B-12 intestinal absorption, needs sufficient calcium intake at meals. A vitamin B12 deficiency may cause pernicious anemia. This is a form of anemia due to a lack of efficient B-12 absorption. People with autoimmune conditions and inflammatory or gastrointestinal diseases are more likely to develop pernicious anemia.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause the following symptoms:
- Fatigue and numbness in the limbs
- A feeling of nausea
- Breathing problems
- Loss of weight
- Nausea or an inability to eat
- Tongue that is sore, red, or swollen
- Body that is pale or yellowish
Vitamin B-12 deficiency, if left unchecked for too long, may damage the nervous system irreversibly. Symptoms that are more serious include: Irritability, trouble walking, muscle weakness, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and memory loss. To screen for vitamin B-12 deficiency, your doctor will prescribe several blood tests. Blood tests can detect antibodies to vitamin B-12 methylmalonic acid intrinsic factor.
Treatment can be given in several different ways, including:
- vitamin B-12 injections, blood transfusions
- raising vitamin B-12 supplies in the diet
- take vitamin B-12 supplements
- Vitamin B-12 can be present in various foods, including red meat. Plant-based milk is two vegetarian sources.
