Vitamins regulate multiple aspects of your health, and an insufficiency in any of the several essential vitamins has adverse health effects. One possible sign of a vitamin insufficiency is shortness of breath, which can develop due to a number of vitamin deficiency related-disorders. Specifically, insufficient intake of two key vitamins can cause shortness of breath.
Vitamin C
Chronic vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy, a disorder linked to weakened bone tissue, hair loss, joint swelling, abnormal gum bleeding and tooth loss. In addition, individuals suffering from scurvy also develop poor circulation, and may develop shortness or breath, fatigue and dizziness due to a lack of proper blood flow. Left untreated, scurvy can be fatal.
Vitamin C Sources and Intake Guidelines
You can prevent a vitamin C insufficiency by consuming several servings of produce each day. Many fruits and vegetables contain ascorbic acid, so a diet based on these foods helps prevent vitamin C deficiency. Pineapple, red pepper, strawberries, oranges and other citrus fruits provide particularly rich sources of vitamin C. The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University indicates that men require 90 mg of vitamin C daily, while women require 75 mg each day to avoid a vitamin C deficiency.
Vitamin B-12
Another type of vitamin insufficiency that can lead to shortness of breath is a vitamin B-12, or cobalamin, deficiency. Vitamin B-12 contributes to a number of physiological processes, including the production of energy from nutrients in your food, the production of certain amino acids and the generation of hemoglobin -- the oxygen-transport protein in your bloodstream, explains the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Deficiencies in vitamin B-12 can diminish oxygen flow to your tissues, causing anemia that leads to shortness of breath, as well as fatigue and weakness.
Vitamin B-12 Sources and Intake Guidelines
A range of animal-based foods contain vitamin B-12, including meats, fish, dairy products and eggs. However, vegetables prove deficient in cobalamin, and individuals on very restrictive raw food or vegan diets made up of plant-based foods face an increased risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency. To prevent shortness of breath due to vitamin B-12 deficiency, consume at least 2.4 mcg of the vitamin daily from dietary sources of vitamin supplements, recommends the University of Maryland Medical Center. As you age, you may require addition vitamin B-12 intake via fortified foods or supplements. Talk to your doctor about about an appropriate vitamin B-12 dosage to prevent anemia and shortness of breath.
