The Diseases Vitamin Deficiencies Can Cause
A lack of adequate nutrition can lead to diseases that vitamin deficiencies cause. This is because vitamins are essential micronutrients that are present in many different foods that people regularly consume, albeit in small amounts.
Until a few years ago, experts talked about the consequences of not consuming certain foods. However, they later discovered that, in reality, to stay healthy, the important thing was the type of substances they contained. What if you don’t get enough vitamins?
Diseases vitamin deficiencies can cause
There are thirteen types of vitamins in total. All of these correspond to a group of organic compounds that act along with enzymes and that are part of the body’s metabolic processes. Although they’re considered micronutrients, they’re a vital part of our diet.
When a vitamin deficiency is sustained in the medium or long term, the probability of developing certain diseases increases. Which ones? Below, we’ll detail the most relevant ones.
Visual disturbances and vitamin A
Vitamin A deficiency is related to visual problems. In particular, it causes dry eyes or xerophthalmia, which could progress to night blindness over time.
Thus, to avoid these complications, you must eat foods that contain it, such as carotenoids. You can usually get vitamin A from foods such as:
- Eggs
- Milk
- Fish, such as salmon
- Liver
- Dark green leafy vegetables
- Mangoes
- Papayas
- Tomatoes
- Carrots
- Squash
- Corn
The recommended daily amount of vitamin A depends on age and gender. According to the National Institute of Health, the values for adults are 900 micrograms for men and 700 for women.
Anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency
A vitamin B12 or cobalamin deficiency causes a type of anemia called pernicious anemia. This substance contains cobalt, a necessary mineral for the production of red blood cells.
As cobalt is only synthesized by bacteria, the contribution in humans is determined by the consumption of foods of animal origin. Thus, people who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet can suffer from this problem.
According to entities such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the average daily recommended amounts of cobalamin for adults is 2.4 micrograms per day. People can obtain this amount with supplements, especially those who follow diets based on plant-based foods.
You should also read: The Benefits of Spirulina: A Surprising Food You Probably Didn’t Know About
Skin lesions and vitamin C deficiency
In its early stages, vitamin C deficiency can lead to bleeding gums and slow healing of wounds. However, many years ago, experts discovered that, in prolonged periods, it causes a pathology called scurvy.
In addition to the symptoms we mentioned, this condition causes fatigue, joint pain, and skin lesions. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), it’s become less usual ever since experts discovered the importance of this nutrient.
Some foods that contain vitamin C are citrus fruits, kiwi, and peppers. However, you must remember that cooking processes or exposure to summer temperatures can lead to a loss of this vitamin. A safe option to supplement your diet is taking supplements.
Neurological disorders and folic acid
Several studies have suggested that the intake of folic acid (vitamin B9) by pregnant women prevents neurological disorders in the fetus. Additionally, supplementation seems to have other beneficial effects, such as the prevention of congenital heart disease and oral clefts.
The main food sources of folic acid are dark green leaves, liver, and kidney. According to the World Health Organization, all women, from the moment they begin trying to conceive until 12 weeks of gestation, should take 400 μg of folic acid a day.
This article may interest you: 5 Ways To Increase Folic Acid Intake During Pregnancy
Bone fragility due to vitamin D deficiency
One of the functions of vitamin D is to keep bones healthy through proper calcium absorption. Diseases such as rickets and osteomalacia may appear if you aren’t getting enough vitamin D.
In humans, this vitamin is formed when the skin is exposed to the ultraviolet rays of sunlight. Similarly, you can get if from foods of animal origin, such as eggs, milk, and meats, although only about 10%.
What to remember about the diseases vitamin deficiencies causes
In short, if you eat a balanced diet, it’s unlikely that you’ll suffer from a vitamin deficiency. However, there may be situations in which the daily recommendations should increase, such as during pregnancy or if you’re suffering from an illness or disorder.
If this is your case, it’s important to adjust your diet, as a lack of these micronutrients can lead to health problems. To do this, it’s advisable to consult a nutritionist to evaluate the possibility of resorting to supplementation.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- UNICEF. La carencia de vitaminas y minerales afecta al desarrollo de un tercio de la población mundial [Internet].[Consultado 2013 Junio 30].
WHO. Administración periconceptiva de suplementos de ácido fólico, con o sin preparados multivitamínicos, para prevenir los defectos del tubo neural.
FAO. Carencia de vitamina C y escorbuto. - Villagrán, M., Muñoz, M., Díaz, F., Troncoso, C., Celis-Morales, C., & Mardones, L. (2019). Una mirada actual de la vitamina C en salud y enfermedad. Revista chilena de nutrición, 46(6), 800-808.
- Datos sobre la vitamina A. National Institute of Health.
- Greenberg, J. A., Bell, S. J., Guan, Y., & Yu, Y. H. (2011). Folic acid supplementation and pregnancy: more than just neural tube defect prevention. Reviews in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 4(2), 52.
- Datos sobre la vitamina B12. National Institute of Health.
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Lips P, van Schoor NM. The effect of vitamin D on bone and osteoporosis. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;25(4):585-591. doi:10.1016/j.beem.2011.05.002
