Hypovitaminosis occurs when there is a lack of one or more vitamins in the body, and is almost always caused by a very restricted and poor diet in some foods, as with animal products in the case of vegetarians.
However, lack of vitamins can also happen due to some health problems like liver problems, changes in the gut or more serious diseases like anorexia or cancer.
1. Lack of vitamin A
Although it is rare, lack of vitamin A can happen when there is a reduction in the intake of foods rich in this vitamin, such as milk, cheese, carrot or spinach, for example. However, lack of vitamin A is also common in people with liver problems or malabsorption syndrome, for example.
Main symptoms: The main symptom is changes in the eyes, such as dry eye and spots, which can cause night blindness. But in addition, other signs include constant colds and flu, dry skin and dry mouth, poor appetite and headaches.
How to treat: The treatment is usually done with vitamin A supplementation, which should be ingested every day. However, the amount of vitamin A should always be calculated by a doctor or nutritionist, as the excess of this vitamin may be toxic to the body.
2. Lack of B-complex vitamins
The B vitamins can be divided into several subgroups, and therefore the lack of all type B vitamins is quite rare, especially in cases of anorexia, where there is a marked reduction in the intake of almost all foods .
The B vitamins that are most often missing are:
- Vitamin B1
The lack of vitamin B1, also known as beriberi, can happen due to several problems like reduced intake of foods with carbohydrates, cancer, hyperthyroidism, problems in the liver or excessive use of diuretic remedies. In addition, during pregnancy there may also be deficiency of this vitamin, since it is a phase in a woman's life where the body needs larger amounts of the vitamin.
Main symptoms: Symptoms such as weakness and excessive tiredness, frequent muscle cramps, general malaise, heart palpitations, fluid retention or lack of memory, for example.
How to treat: The supplementation of this vitamin is usually used for at least 6 months. However, it is recommended to make changes in diet, failing to consume alcoholic beverages and increasing the intake of foods rich in vitamin. See a complete list of foods with vitamin B1.
- Vitamin B6
In addition to the reduced intake of foods with vitamin B6, the lack of this vitamin can also occur in people with kidney problems, bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis or excessive consumption of alcohol.
Main symptoms: This vitamin is very important for the nervous system, so its lack can cause confusion, depression, weakening immune system, swelling of the tongue, skin problems and anemia.
How to treat: It is recommended to use vitamin B6 supplements, in addition to increasing the intake of foods rich in vitamin such as salmon, chicken or banana, for example. Get to know other foods rich in vitamin B6.
- B12 vitamin
The deficiency of this type of vitamin is more frequent in vegetarians, since the main sources of vitamin B12 are products of animal origin, like egg, meat or cheese, that are not part of the more restricted vegetarian diets. However, lack of this vitamin can also happen in people with decreased intrinsic factor, which is a substance produced in the stomach that helps to absorb vitamin B12.
Main symptoms: A lack of vitamin B12 is a major cause of anemia, and therefore some symptoms of its lack in the body may include excessive tiredness, weight loss, tingling in the hands and feet, confusion, poor balance or mouth, for example.
How to treat: It is advisable to make changes in the diet, increasing the consumption of foods rich in this vitamin. However, in the case of vegetarians or people with a lack of intrinsic factor it may be necessary to make injections of the vitamin. Learn more about the lack of this vitamin.
Also check out a complete list of the symptoms of the lack of each vitamin of the B complex.
3. Lack of vitamin C
Vitamin C can not be produced by the human body and therefore must be ingested in food through foods such as orange, spinach or tomato. In addition, people with changes in intestinal absorption, such as in the case of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, also present a high risk of deficiency of this vitamin.
Main symptoms: The first signs include tiredness, muscle pain and purple spots on the skin, however, with the worsening of the problem may arise swelling and bleeding of the gums, recurrent infections or loss of teeth, for example.
How to treat: in addition to the intake of vitamin C supplements it is necessary to increase the intake of foods rich in vitamin. See which foods with the highest concentration of vitamin C.
4. Lack of vitamin D
In addition to reducing intake of foods with vitamin D, such as salmon, egg or sardines, lack of vitamin D may also occur when there is insufficient sun exposure, for example.
Main symptoms: The most common signs are bone pain and muscle weakness. However, over time, more serious problems such as cardiovascular disease, cancer or severe asthma may develop in children.
How to treat: You should increase the intake of foods with vitamin D and use supplements of this vitamin D. In addition, it is recommended to increase safe sun exposure as the body is able to produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. See which foods to add to your food.
5. Lack of vitamin K
Lack of vitamin K is more common in infants, and is caused by problems such as poor transmission of the vitamin by the placenta, prematurity of the liver or reduction of the amount of vitmaine K by the maternal lens. However, vitamin K deficiency may also occur in adults with changes such as alcoholism, malabsorption syndromes or use of antibiotics, for example.
Main symptoms: Lack of vitamin K can cause symptoms such as blood clotting problems, frequent bleeding and purple spots on the skin.
How to treat: It is recommended to use vitamin K supplements, which must be calculated by a doctor. In addition, it is important to increase the intake of foods rich in vitamin K. See the list of foods with more vitamin K.
