Numerous diseases may be caused by eating an unhealthy diet. According to the Wrong Diagnosis website, a diet lacking in certain vitamins can cause many medical conditions to manifest. An unhealthy diet is a diet in which not enough nutrient-rich food is eaten or insufficient quantities of food are consumed. A person may eat enough calories to sustain life, but if his diet is lacking in nutrients -- vitamins and minerals -- certain diseases can cause serious health problems.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency may be caused by consuming an unhealthy diet. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP, vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is important for DNA synthesis and neurological function. Vitamin B12 deficiency can result in a variety of blood-, nerve- and psychiatric-related conditions that may be reversed with proper diagnosis and prompt care. Common signs and symptoms associated with vitamin B12 deficiency include abnormal sensations such as tingling or burning, peripheral neuropathy, anemia or a loss of red blood cells, impaired memory, irritability, depression, dementia and psychosis. The AAFP states that vitamin B12 deficiency can be caused by a nutritional deficiency or by a malabsorption syndrome. Malabsorption syndromes -- such as pernicious anemia -- occur when the body is unable to effectively absorb and use vitamin B12.
Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency can be caused by consuming an unhealthy diet. The World Health Organization, or WHO, states that vitamin A deficiency is the No. 1 cause of preventable blindness in children. Lack of vitamin A also increases the risk of disease and death from severe infections. According to the WHO, vitamin A deficiency is a widespread public health problem, commonly affecting young children and pregnant women in Africa and Southeast Asia. Common signs and symptoms associated with vitamin A deficiency include impaired dark adaptation of the eyes, hazy vision or spots, drying and scaling of the skin, respiratory infections, impaired immunity, growth retardation and frequent infections. The Merck Manuals website states that the mortality rate can exceed 50 percent in children with a severe vitamin A deficiency, and the younger the patient with this condition, the more severe are the effects of vitamin A deficiency.
Beriberi
Beriberi, also known as thiamine deficiency or vitamin B1 deficiency, can be caused by eating an unhealthy diet. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, there are two principle types of beriberi -- wet and dry. Wet beriberi usually targets the cardiovascular system, whereas dry beriberi affects a person's nervous system. Common signs and symptoms associated with wet beriberi include shortness of breath at night and during activity, increased heart rate and lower leg swelling. Common signs and symptoms associated with dry beriberi include difficulty walking, loss of sensation in the hands and feet, lower leg paralysis, mental confusion, speaking problems, pain throughout the body, abnormal eye movements, tingling and vomiting. The UMMC states that beriberi can be prevented by eating a diet that is rich in thiamine and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption.
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