Vitamins work alongside minerals, enzymes and other nutrients to form cells, metabolize food, heal wounds and keep your body's major systems running smoothly. Not surprisingly, vitamin deficiencies can cause an assortment of health problems. In the United States, diet-related vitamin deficiencies are rare. However, there are a number of malabsorption disorders that can cause chronic and vitamin deficiencies with serious health consequences.
Identification
In healthy people, the digestion process breaks down food into its most basic components: vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and sugars. These components are absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine. However, people with malabsorption disorders lack the ability to properly process one or more of the vital nutrients they need.
Causes
Malabsorption may be caused by an inability to digest food, or an inability to absorb nutrients from digested food, according to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Digestion problems may be caused by stomach surgeries, or an inability to produce sufficient digestive enzymes in the stomach or small intestine. Nutrient absorption problems are typically caused by damage to the small intestine lining. Damage can come from diseases such as Crohn's disease, pathogenic infections or Celiac disease, or from pharmaceutical drugs, surgical removal of intestinal sections, or radiation treatment. In addition, certain cancers can block blood flow to the lining and reduce its function. Treatments for malabsorption problems depend on the specific cause.
Vitamins
Merck's online health reference explains that vitamins are organic, carbon-based micro-nutrients that come from plant and animal products. Your body requires 13 vitamins to carry out its basic functions, including vitamins A, C, D, E, K and B-group vitamins such as niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, folic acid, B6 and B12.
Function
Each vitamin performs a specific set of jobs. Vitamin A supports vision, reproduction and bone health. Vitamin C helps form connective tissue, bone and skin. B vitamins support metabolism, nerve function, muscle function and enzyme production. Vitamin D promotes the formation and health of your bones and teeth. Vitamin K helps clot your blood and vitamin E, along with vitamins A and C, is an antioxidant.
Deficiency Symptoms
According to Merck, vitamin A deficiencies can cause night blindness; vitamin C deficiencies can cause weakness and bleeding gums; and vitamin D deficiencies can cause bone pain and bone loss. Vitamin E deficiencies are extremely rare and usually only occur at the point of near-starvation. Because it's a clotting agent, vitamin K deficiencies can cause a tendency to bruise and bleed easily.
Among the B-group vitamins, folate deficiencies can cause anemia-related fatigue and weakness, as well as neurological development problems in unborn babies. Niacin deficiencies can cause diarrhea, skin disorders, confusion and a sore tongue. Thiamine deficiencies can cause a pins-and-needles sensation in the extremities and--in extreme cases--heart failure. Riboflavin deficiencies may cause a sore tongue and cracks at edges of the mouth. A serious lack of B6 has been linked to depression, confusion and seizures. Vitamin B12 deficiencies cause anemia-related fatigue and weakness, a pins-and-needles sensation and confusion.
Member Comments