A severe vitamin deficiency can cause disease. Many times, if a person is deficient in one vitamin, then he or she is probably deficient in several. In modern America, most deficiencies are usually a result of malabsorption, a diet fad, chronic alcoholism or medications. Physical symptoms will not appear until the deficiency reaches a severe level.
Blindness
The cornea covers the front of the eye, and the conjunctiva is the membrane that covers the inside of the eyelid and the front of the eye. These are normally moist. With a deficiency of vitamin A, the eye will become very dry; this is called xerophthalmia. If the deficiency continues, white plaques, infections and ulcers develop until the cornea gets soft. The eye lens can then press outwards, causing blindness. According to Robert Baron, Professor of Medicine at the University of California, vitamin A deficiency is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies. In many underdeveloped countries, it is the most common reason for blindness.
Beriberi
There are two forms of beriberi: wet beriberi and dry beriberi. Both forms are caused by a thiamine deficiency; thiamine is also referred to as vitamin B1. Wet beriberi is a disease that causes the heart to become enlarged and gradually leads to heart failure. Dry beriberi is a disease that affects the peripheral nerves; these are the nerves other than the brain and spinal cord. Dry beriberi can be asymptomatic, revealed only by a medical examination, or there may be symptoms of weakness, decreased reflexes and pain.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Like beriberi, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome is caused by a deficiency of thiamine, which in America is sometimes due to chronic alcoholism. The symptoms of Wernicke--the first phase of this disease--are unsteadiness when walking and abnormal eye movements. If Korsakoff develops, confusion and memory problems will result, and the afflicted person will try to compensate by making up stories to fill in memory gaps. This "filling in" of gaps in memory is referred to as confabulation.
Pellagra
Pellagra is a disease that is caused by a deficiency of niacin, which is also called vitamin B3. At first, you may have glossitis (an inflammation of the tongue) and weakness. Diarrhea, dermatitis and dementia will follow. The diarrhea may be bloody, as explained by Dr. Larry Johnson, Associate Professor of Geriatrics and Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dermatitis on the hands, called the pellagrous glove, may appear, and it may be on the legs and feet (the pellagrous boot). Sunlight can cause dermatitis on the face and around the neck.
Scurvy
Scurvy is caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin C. According to Dr. Johnson, it may take months to develop any symptoms, such as weight loss, pain in the joints and muscles and weakness. If the deficiency continues, hemorrhages around the hair follicles, bleeding gums and tooth loss will result. Infections can develop in the wounds.
References
- "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2009"; Stephen McPhee, M.D., Maxine Papadakis, M.D.; 2009
- The Merck Manual: Niacin
- The Merck Manual: Vitamin C
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