While many people have mild deficiencies of certain vitamins or minerals, severe deficiencies of certain nutrients can cause specific diseases. In the industrialized world, most diseases associated with poor nutrition are rare, although they do sometimes still occur among certain groups of people, such as alcoholics. Vitamin supplements and fortified foods are readily available in the U.S. and can completely cure most deficiencies when regularly ingested.
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Anemia occurs when the red blood cells are unable to carry the normal amount of oxygen. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, a lack of iron is the most common nutritional deficiency in the U.S. and is the most prevalent cause of anemia. Iron deficiency anemia can cause fatigue and memory problems in adults and can lead to developmental delays in infants and children. Pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia may go into preterm labor and deliver prematurely. Meat and fish are the best sources of bioavailable iron, but plant sources and iron supplements are other ways to get this vital mineral.
Scurvy
Scurvy develops as a result of a deficiency in vitamin C and is rare in modern developed societies, explains The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Alcoholics and malnourished elderly individuals may be at risk for scurvy, but most people get enough vitamin C to fend it off. While early symptoms of a vitamin C deficiency involve weakness, irritability, weight loss and muscle aches, people who develop scurvy may notice bleeding under the skin and from the gums, loose teeth, dry or brittle hair, rough and scaly skin, anemia, and wounds that do not heal. High doses of vitamin C can cure scurvy within one to two weeks.
Rickets
A deficiency in vitamin D can lead to rickets, a condition in which the bones become soft and weak, according to MayoClinic.com. Over time, the spine and leg bones may curve, resulting in visible deformities. Vitamin D production occurs in the skin upon exposure to sunlight, so people who receive little sun exposure are more likely to develop rickets. Vitamin D is available in supplement form and from food sources for people who do not produce enough on their own. Because milk and other dairy products are fortified with vitamin D, the development of rickets is relatively rare in the U.S.
Pellagra
MedlinePlus explains that pellagra is a deficiency of either vitamin B3, also known as niacin, or of tryptophan, an amino acid. People who eat a lot of corn may develop pellagra because of the nutritional imbalances in this vegetable. People with pellagra may experience diarrhea, delusions, skin sores, confusion and inflamed mucous membranes.
Beriberi
Beriberi is the result of a deficiency of thiamine, also known as vitamin B1. According to Drugs.com, there are two forms of beriberi: wet and dry. The wet form affects the cardiovascular system and results in symptoms of increased heart rate, shortness of breath, night awakening and lower leg swelling. The dry form is neurological in nature and causes a loss of sensation in the hands and feet, difficulty walking, leg paralysis, mental confusion, pain, vomiting, and odd eye movements. Oral thiamine supplements or injections can reverse beriberi.
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