Vitamins are essential nutrients for proper body functioning. They aid the body in functions that promote growth, development, reproduction, digestion, disease reduction, and overall health and life maintenance. Each vitamin has its own role. If the body is deficient in any one of them, it becomes at risk for a host of diseases and disorders.
Thiamin (Vitamin B1)
Thiamin deficiency results in the nervous system disease beriberi. Beriberi symptoms include: cardiac failure, enlarged heart, weak muscles, apathy, short-term memory loss, confusion, irritability, anorexia, weight loss, edema and emotional issues.
Two types of beriberi exist--dry and wet. Dry beriberi damages peripheral nerves, causing muscle wasting and partial paralysis. Wet beriberi weakens the capillaries and heart, leading to edema.
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
Riboflavin deficiency results in ariboflavinosis. It's characterized by inflammation of the throat, mouth, and eyelids; cracking at the corners of the mouth, sore throat and light sensitivity.
Niacin (Vitamin B3)
Niacin deficiency results in the systemic, nutritional wasting disease pellagra. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, depression, apathy, fatigue, memory loss, headaches, bright red and smooth tongue, aggression, sunlight sensitivity, insomnia, bilateral symmetrical rashes from the sun, ataxia and dementia.
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)
Pantothenic acid deficiency is rare and generally caused by extreme malnutrition. The symptoms include vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps, fatigue, insomnia, apathy, numbness, depression, irritability, restlessness, hypoglycemia, parasthesia, and in the most severe cases, hepatic encephalopathy and adrenal insufficiency.
Pyrodoxine (Vitamin B6)
Pyrodoxine deficiency results in small cell anemia, depression, confusion, convulsions, scaly dermatitis, abnormal brain wave patterns, limb weakness, limb numbness and gastrointestinal distress.
Biotin (Vitamin B7)
Biotin deficiency results in depression, hallucinations, lethargy, limb numbness or tingling, hair loss, dry skin, fungal infections, myalgia (muscle pain) and rashes around the eyes, nose and mouth.
Folate (Vitamin B9 or Folic Acid)
Folate deficiency results in large-cell anemia, confusion, weakness, fatigue, headaches, irritability, smooth red tongue, heart palpitations, loss of appetite, weight loss and behavioral disorders.
Cobalamin (Vitamin B12)
Cobalamin deficiency results in large-cell anemia, fatigue and paralysis by the degeneration of peripheral nerves. Symptoms include itchy or tingly tongue, fatigue, memory loss, migraine headaches, eye twitch, nerve shock, raw sores at the corners of the mouth, unilateral facial pain and tingling sensations in the hip or palms of the hand.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C deficiency results in the disease scurvy, causing a lack of collagen formation. Symptoms of vitamin C deficiency include small-cell anemia, fragile bones, joint pain, poor wound healing, frequent infections, skin spots, spongy gums, pinpoint hemorrhages, atherosclerotic plaques, bleeding mucous membranes, loose teeth, muscle loss, hysteria, muscle pain, depression, rough skin and blotchy bruises.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A deficiency results in hypovitaminosis A. Symptoms include corneal drying, night blindness, corneal softening, corneal degeneration, impaired immunity, gray triangular spots on the eye, keratinization and blindness.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency results in rickets and osteomalacia. Symptoms include: bowed legs; muscle spasms; pain in the pelvis, lower back and legs; and abnormal bone shape, size, and calcification.
Vitamin E and Vitamin D
Vitamin E deficiency is rare but may result in neuromuscular dysfunctions and red blood cell breakage.
Vitamin K deficiency is rare but may result in hemorrhagic disease and death if not treated.
References
- Understanding Nutrition; Ellie Whitney and Sharon Rady Rolfes; 2005.
- American Cancer Society
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