Vitamins do not provide calories for the body to use directly as energy, but many are involved in cellular metabolism, hormone regulation and stimulating immunity, which allow the body to function without debilitating fatigue. Long-term fatigue combined with other symptoms is termed chronic fatigue syndrome, which is a categorization moreso than a disease with specific causes. Many disease conditions, including vitamin deficiencies, lead to chronic fatigue.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome, or CFS, is a common name used to specify a medical disorder generally defined by persistent fatigue lasting at least six months and accompanied by sleep disturbance, muscle and joint pain, reduced immune response, depression and issues with cognition. The World Health Organization classifies CFS as a disease of the nervous system, although its cause is considered unknown and there are no diagnostic tests or biomarkers to identify it. Some health practitioners and researchers point out that the symptoms of CFS are similar to those of certain vitamin deficiencies. At the very least, lack of some vitamins do cause fatigue that persists as long as there is a deficiency.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is well-known for its role in bone growth and health, but it also enhances immunity, regulates mood and helps to balance hormones. Fatigue can result from an overworked immune system, depressed mood or unbalanced hormones. The National Institutes of Health recommend 400 IU per day for children, 600 IU for adults up to the age of 70 and 800 IU for those older. Serum concentration of calcidiol is the best measure of vitamin D status and levels below 37.5 nanomoles per liter are considered deficient. It is estimated that about 70 percent of the U.S. population is vitamin D deficient, primarily because of reduced exposure to sunlight, as cited in "Nutrition and Public Health." Initial symptoms of deficiency usually include debilitating fatigue not resolved by sleep, anxiety, disrupted sleep cycles, reduced appetite, mild depression, achy or cramping muscle and sore joints, which are comparable to the symptoms of CFS.
Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid
The body requires vitamin B12 and folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, to synthesize healthy red blood cells within bone marrow. A deficiency of either vitamin leads to pernicious anemia, which is a condition of the blood characterized by malformed and dysfunctional red blood cells. Pernicious anemia reduces the bloods capacity to carry oxygen to the brain and other tissues, which results in severe fatigue, headache and heart palpitations, as cited in "Human Biochemistry and Disease." Both vitamins are also required for maintenance of the central nervous system and higher brain functions, so long-term deficiency leads to reduced cognition, issues with short-term memory, muscle wasting, peripheral neuropathy and depression. Adults require at least 2 micrograms of vitamin B12 per day, although it is poorly absorbed in the intestines. Normal blood levels of B12 range from 200-600 picograms per milliliter.
Vitamin C
In addition to producing collagen and maintaining connective tissues, such as ligaments and skin, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that prevents tissue damage and boosts the immune system. The National Institutes of Health state that adults should consume between 75-125 mg of vitamin C per day, depending on gender, pregnancy and cigarette smoking. However, only 10 mg per day prevents the symptoms of scurvy, which includes severe fatigue, swelling, muscle and joint pain, bleeding gums and hair loss. Although full-blown scurvy is very rare in the U.S., some health practitioners and researchers believe that chronic fatigue is a common early symptom of vitamin C deficiency and that the body requires at least 1,000 mg daily, as cited in "Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition."
References
- "Professional Guide to Diseases: Ninth Edition"; Springhouse Publishing; 2009
- National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D Fact Sheet
- "Nutrition and Public Health"; Sari Edelstein; 2006
- "Human Biochemistry and Disease"; Gerald Litwack; 2008
- National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin C Fact Sheet
- "Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition"; Martha Stipanuk; 2006
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