Vitamins are organic compounds vital to life and necessary for body functions. They are only needed in small amounts and are considered noncaloric, essential nutrients. Vitamins fall into two classes: fat-soluble and water-soluble. The fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E and K. The water-soluble vitamins are B and C. Deficiencies of vitamins occur when the diet is steadily low in vitamin intake.
Vitamin A
According to the World Health Organization, vitamin A deficiency is a concern in poor societies and not found often in developing countries such as the United States. Deficiency of vitamin A is a result of a diet continuously lacking the vitamin. Lack of vitamin A results in anemia, stops bone growth and can also cause painful joints. Some individuals suffer from blindness, kidney stones, depression and infections.
Vitamin D
Rickets is the most common disease associated with vitamin D deficiency. Rickets usually affects children and results in bowed legs due to bones being too weak to support the weight of the body. The stomachs of affected children also protrude due to laxity in abdominal muscles. Adult rickets is also known as osteomalacia and occurs in women with low calcium intake and little to no sun exposure.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E deficiency occurs in premature babies born before the vitamin is able to transfer from mother to infant and results in anemia. In adults, vitamin E deficiency has been characterized by loss of muscle coordination and reflexes. There is also an impairment of vision and speech. Vitamin E is very widespread in food, and therefore it is almost impossible to find a person suffering from vitamin E deficiency.
Vitamin K
According to the authors of Nutrition Concepts and Controversies, vitamin K deficiency is rare in the U.S. even if foods rich in vitamin K are seldom eaten. A vitamin K deficiency, if found, is associated with usage of antibiotics that kill good and bad bacteria in the intestinal tract. Newborn infants with vitamin K deficiency suffer because bacteria do not yet inhabit their intestinal tract.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B deficiency is associated with lack of energy. All cells of the body require vitamin B and cannot work properly in its absence. Symptoms of B vitamin deficiency are nausea, swollen tongue, loss of appetite and weight, muscle pain, severe exhaustion, irritability, depression and teary, bloodshot eyes.
Vitamin C
Scurvy is the most common symptom caused by lack of vitamin C. In the United States, scurvy is rare except in elderly people addicted to alcohol or drugs and infants only fed cows milk. Sufficient vitamin C is present in infant formula and breast milk.
References
- Nutriton Concepts and Controversies, 9th Edition, Frances Sizer and Eleanor Whitney
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