Most vitamin deficiencies can only be confirmed through a blood test. If you suspect you have a vitamin deficiency, talk to your doctor so that you can figure out how to deal with the problem. If you eat a healthy, balanced diet, you're likely consuming all the vitamins you need. If you are on a special diet or have a medical condition, however, your body might have trouble assimilating certain vitamins and make you more likely to experience a deficiency.
Step 1
Make a list of any health problems you're experiencing that you don't know the cause of. If you have developed dry skin or fragile hair, that might indicate a vitamin deficiency. So might extreme fatigue, vision problems, sleep disorders and cold body temperature, especially if those problems have progressed over time and don't seem to be related to any obvious changes you've made in your life.
Step 2
Take a look at your diet. If you don't eat fruits and vegetables on a regular basis, you might be lacking vitamins A and C, which are mainly obtained from produce. If you're a vegan and don't consume any animal products, you might have a B-12 deficiency.
Step 3
Look for symptoms beyond the obvious physical ones. Problems concentrating, depression and mental fatigue can all be related to a lack of vitamins.
Step 4
Talk to your doctor if you're taking medications -- prescription or over the counter. Some drugs can affect your vitamin levels. For example, fat blockers like Alli --an FDA-approved diet pill sold over the counter -- might prevent your body from absorbing fat-soluble vitamins, so you end up with a deficiency.
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