Vitamin Deficiency - What Vitamins or Minerals Are Missing

Vitamin Deficiency - What Vitamins or Minerals Are Missing

How will you know if a health problem is caused by vitamins deficiency or vitamin excess? Could your flaky, dry skin, bleeding gums, or fatigue, or unexplained nerve pain have a simpler root cause?

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Symptoms Of Vitamin Deficiency

But there is good news. Neither a vitamin deficiency nor vitamins overdose is common and either can be treated quickly and easily. Vitamin deficiencies are normally only seen among the mal-nourished, recreational drug users, users of doctor-prescribed medicines for chronic diseases, alcoholics and the elderly.

A vitamin supplement can readily correct a deficiency. Glucosamine, for example, produces remarkable and relatively immediate therapeutic effects on the joints of many people. In this case, glucosamine triggers a renewal of metabolic processes related to your body's production of synovial fluid for lubricating your joints.

Vitamin overdoses might be seen among people who are taking too many vitamin supplements or who consume extreme amounts of concentrated foods, like carrot juice. A vitamin overdose from foods in a normal, balanced diet is unlikely, unless you have one of a few rare genetic conditions. Hemochromatosis is such a condition where iron builds-up to dangerous levels in the body.

Overdosing minerals also creates potentially serious near-term impacts. Minerals like calcium, coral calcium, calcium magnesium are generally benign. However, over ingesting minerals such as iron can cause serious health impacts.

How Much Vitamins Is Right For You?

Vitamin B12 deficiency may be the most common deficiency, especially if you eat a vegetarian or vegan diet. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) the daily needs of this nutrient are at least 2 micrograms(mcg) each day, regardless of age or gender. Pregnant and lactating women should take 2.2-2.6 mcg daily. Infants need about 0.3-0.6 mcg. Children need about 0.7-1.4 mcg.

Two micrograms may not sound like much, but vitamin B12 deficiency can still occur because B12 is not as easy to obtain in the diet as most other nutrients. B12 is found primarily in non-vegetable sources, such as meat, poultry, fish, dairy and eggs. Because of its concentration in animal sources, vegetarians are particularly at risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Also, as you get older, your body's ability to absorb B12 from food declines. This is why some senior citizens have a vitamin B12 deficiency and need supplementation.

A B12 vitamin deficiency can cause pernicious anemia. Symptoms of this condition may be numbness in the extremities, general weakness, or irritation in the mouth. A serious deficiency can cause damage to the brain. If you suspect anemia, contact your doctor for an examination and blood test. If you do have pernicious anemia as a result of a B12 deficiency, it can be treated swiftly with vitamin B12 injections.
Even if you do not have a deficiency, your doctor might recommend you supplement your diet with B12 just to be sure. But do not take more than you need. While there are few reports of significant B12 toxicity due to vitamin overdose, some think excessively high doses could lead to brain damage. It is always better to play it safe and follow the USDA guidelines. Taking higher doses should be at your doctor's advice.