Vitamin deficiency

MEDICAL EDITOR

Prab R. Tumpati, MD — Editor-in-Chief, WikiMD Medical Encyclopedia
Internal medicine • Obesity medicine • Sleep medicine
Professional affiliations: Founder of WikiMD and W8MD Weight Loss, Sleep & MedSpa.
Biography, credentials and affiliations • Editorial policy • Disclosure policy

Vitamin deficiency
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Fatigue (medical), dizziness, pallor, neuropathy, muscle weakness
Complications	Anemia, neurological disorders, impaired immune function
Onset	Varies depending on the vitamin
Duration	Chronic if untreated
Types	Vitamin A deficiency, Vitamin B1 deficiency, Vitamin B2 deficiency, Vitamin B3 deficiency, Vitamin B5 deficiency, Vitamin B6 deficiency, Vitamin B7 deficiency, Vitamin B9 deficiency, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Vitamin C deficiency, Vitamin D deficiency, Vitamin E deficiency, Vitamin K deficiency
Causes	Malnutrition, malabsorption, alcoholism, dietary restrictions
Risks	Pregnancy, elderly, vegetarianism, chronic illness
Diagnosis	Blood test, clinical evaluation
Differential diagnosis	N/A
Prevention	Balanced diet, supplementation
Treatment	Dietary supplements, dietary changes
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Good with treatment
Frequency	Common
Deaths	N/A

Vitamin deficiency is a condition of inadequate intake or improper absorption of vitamins by the body. Vitamins are essential nutrients that the body requires in small amounts for various roles in the body. Vitamin deficiency can lead to various health problems.

Causes

Vitamin deficiency can be caused by:

• Inadequate intake of vitamins in the diet
• Malabsorption disorders that prevent absorption of vitamins
• Certain health conditions that interfere with the utilization of vitamins

Symptoms

The symptoms of vitamin deficiency depend on which vitamin the body is lacking. Some common symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Pale or yellowish skin
• Irregular heartbeats
• Weight loss
• Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
• Muscle weakness
• Personality changes
• Unsteady movements
• Mental confusion or forgetfulness

Types of Vitamin Deficiency

There are several types of vitamin deficiency, including:

• Vitamin A deficiency
• Vitamin B deficiency
• Vitamin C deficiency
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Vitamin E deficiency
• Vitamin K deficiency

Treatment

Treatment for vitamin deficiency involves replacing the missing vitamins. This can be done through changes in diet, vitamin supplements, or in severe cases, injections of the missing vitamin.

Prevention

Vitamin deficiency can be prevented by eating a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods from all food groups.

See also

• Malnutrition
• Vitamin
• Dietary supplement