Vitamins are important nutrients that help maintain the health of the body and its tissues. Most vitamins come into the body as part of a balanced diet or ingested as nutritional supplements. Vitamins are either water-soluble or fat-soluble. The body does not store water-soluble vitamins, which can predispose to deficiencies of these vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored within the liver and fatty tissues, so severe deficiencies of these vitamins are rare.
Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin important for vision, a well-functioning immune system, and the health of bones and teeth. Good sources of vitamin A include fortified milk and dairy products and egg yolks. Leafy green vegetables, sweet potatoes and carrots are good sources of beta-carotene, which the body can then convert into vitamin A. According to Colorado State University, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, diarrhea, inflammation of the eyes and total blindness in children.
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D is important for the health of bones. It is a fat-soluble vitamin produced when sunlight strikes the skin. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin D deficiency usually results from lack of proper exposure to sunlight, in older adults, in breast-fed infants, and in people who have inefficient absorption of nutrients from the gut. Vitamin D deficiency in children can cause rickets, a condition that makes the bones fragile and misshapen. In adults, vitamin D deficiency results in osteoporosis, or weakening of the bones.
Vitamin B-12 Deficiency
Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin important for the production of red blood cells, the cells that carry oxygen in the bloodstream. Vitamin B-12 is present in meats, poultry, fish, eggs and fortified dairy products. Because of this, B-12 deficiency can happen in vegetarians and ovo-vegans. Vitamin B-12 deficiency can result in macrocytic anemia, a condition in which the body produces fewer and larger red blood cells that are unable to transport oxygen in an efficient manner. Symptoms of B-12 deficiency include weakness, shortness of breath and paleness.
Vitamin C Deficiency
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin present in many of the foods we eat. Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits and juices, vegetables, and fortified dairy products and cereals. Vitamin C is important for the healing of damaged tissues and cells. According to Medline Plus, an online resource of the National Institutes of Health, deficiency of this vitamin results in a condition called scurvy, with bleeding gums, weakness and anemia.
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