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Minerals & Vitamins for Deficiency Diseases

Jun 25, 2011 | By Jeffrey Traister
Minerals & Vitamins for Deficiency Diseases
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Minerals and vitamins are nutrients essential for health and prevention of disease. When certain minerals or vitamins are deficient in your diet, you may increase your risk of developing various diseases and conditions, such as heart disease, anemia, osteomalacia and rheumatoid arthritis. Talk with your doctor or nutritionist about supplements or changes to your diet if you think you are deficient in any vitamin or mineral.

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease in the United States. Zinc is an anti-oxidant that protects your body from free-radical damage that contributes to the aging process and the development of a number of health problems, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Among those problems is heart disease. Research at the University of Turku in Finland found that patients with type 2 diabetes who had low blood levels of zinc also had a higher risk of developing coronary heart disease. The study was published in March 2007 in "Diabetes Care."

Anemia

Anemia is characterized by insufficient red blood cells. Iron-deficiency anemia occurs when you have an inadequate amount of iron to support formation of normal red blood cells. Cancer patients sometimes develop iron-deficiency anemia, and research at Boston Medical Center in Massachusetts showed that supplementation could improve their quality of life. The results were published in May 2011 in the "American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy."

Osteomalacia

Osteomalacia is a condition characterized by softening of the bones and increased risk of bone fractures caused by vitamin D deficiency. In children, this condition is rickets, according to the Mayo Clinic. Exposure to sunlight and a diet rich in vitamin D can prevent osteomalacia.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation, pain and loss of function of the joints. Mineral and vitamin deficiencies are associated with this disease. Research at Albany Medical College in New York that was published in "The Journal of Rheumatology" in June 1996 found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis were deficient in zinc, magnesium, copper, vitamin B-6 and folate. The researchers concluded that taking multivitamin supplements with trace minerals could reduce the risk of developing this disease.

References

Article reviewed by Amy Richards Last updated on: Jun 25, 2011

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