You’ve probably heard more about the importance of supplementation via reputable brands like Vital Nutrients at Supplement First. The words “vitamin deficiency” may have been thrown around, which may have you wonder what it really means and the consequences behind suffering from it.
Vitamin deficiencies can cause various symptoms including fatigue, mood changes, and poor hair or skin health. The symptoms you may experience will depend on the vitamins you are deficient in since they play different roles in the body.
Let’s take a closer look at the common complications and symptoms related to vitamin deficiencies, their cause and risk factors, and how to diagnose and treat them.
Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiencies
Our bodies will produce many of the vitamins they require. But there are some vitamins that our bodies can’t produce, so we get them through our diet and supplements. If we are deficient in some of these vitamins, we can experience symptoms like:
– Fatigue and weakness
– Dry skin and hair
– Depression
– Easy bruising and bleeding
– Poor wound healing
– Higher risk of infections
– Bone fractures
– Changes in skin color
Complications of Vitamin Deficiencies
If you are deficient in vitamins for a long period, you run the risk of experiencing serious health issues, including:
– Vision loss
– Memory loss
– Shortness of breath
– Weakness of the fingers and toes
– The decreased sensation of the hands and feet
Causes Behind Vitamin Deficiencies
There are numerous causes behind vitamin deficiencies, which are:
– Diet – Your diet is a common cause behind vitamin deficiency. Vegans, vegetarians, or those going dairy-free or gluten-free may be deficient in certain vitamins. The same goes for those who consume food high in fat but low in fruits and vegetables.
– Sunlight – If you don’t get enough sunlight, you are susceptible to a vitamin D deficiency.
– Medical illnesses – Conditions like kidney disease, malabsorption syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and the like can make it difficult for your body to absorb and metabolize vitamins properly.
Diagnosing a Vitamin Deficiency
Other than identifying any symptoms you experience, there are other ways you will be tested for vitamin deficiencies before you are officially diagnosed.
– Blood tests would be done to show any signs of vitamin deficiency and measure your vitamin levels.
– Interventional tests are done if you have a digestive issue, as this involves examining your stomach or intestines.
How to Treat Vitamin Deficiencies
Fortunately, there are treatments for vitamin deficiencies, which are:
– Dietary Changes – This involves making positive dietary changes to include more vitamin-rich food.
– Vitamin Replacement – This is done through taking oral supplements from Thorne Research or receiving injections.
– Medical Management – This may entail medical or surgical treatments to help the effects of vitamin deficiencies caused by medical conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.
Wrapping It Up
If you experience any symptoms that may indicate a vitamin deficiency, make sure you check with your doctor to have this treated right away.