top of page

Deficiencies~ signs and symptoms

  • A –night blindness, or other vision problems.  If you have chronic diarrhea you can lose vit A.  If you are low iron, you will also most likely be low in Vitamin A.

  • Beta Carotene -same as vit A

  • B1 Thiamin-beriberi, extreme fatigue, irritability, constipation, edema, enlarged liver, forgetfulness, gastrointestinal disturbances, heart changes, irritability, labored breathing and loss of appetite may also be experienced.  With too little thiamin around a person may also experience nervousness, numbness of the hands and feet, pain and sensitivity, poor coordination, tingling sensations, weak and sore muscles, general weakness and severe weight loss.

  • B2–Riboflavin — cracks and sores at the corner of your mouth, inflammation of the mouth and tongue, eye problems, skin problems, dizziness, hair loss, inability to sleep well, slow responses, slow growth, burning feet, poor digestion.

  • B3–Niacin — It is rare to be deficient, with a proper diet.  Mild deficiencies are: indigestion, fatigue, canker sores, vomiting, and depression. Severe deficiency can cause a condition known as pellagra.

  • B6-Pyridoxine–serious deficiencies are: muscle weakness, nervousness, irritability, depression, difficulty concentrating, and short-term memory loss.

  • B12-cobalamin--sore tongue, weakness, fatigue, weight loss, back pain, also possible: loss of balance, decreased reflexes, tingling of the fingers, ringing in the ears.

  • C — illness is the major one…

  • Calcium — long term deficiencies show up…bone loss, teeth loss, numbness and tingling in fingers, and hands, severe calcium deficiency can lead to : muscle cramps, convulsions, lethargy, poor appetite, and abnormal heart rhythms-which if left untreated can lead to death.

  • Choline and lecithin — essential for brain development in the fetus-you can get enough from a healthy diet.

  • Chromium— diabetes, high blood lipid levels, weight gain

  • Copper–hair loss, anemia, a drop in HDL cholesterol

  • Vitamin D –.cancer, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease

  • Vitamin E –vegetable oil, corn, sunflower, sesame, peanut, canola, palm oil, almonds, peanuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, walnuts, legumes, grains, corn, wheat, rice, lentils, northern beans, chickpeas, barley grass, oats, wheat germ oil.

  • Folic Acid –birth defects of brain or spine of baby

  • Inositol –constipation, high cholesterol, problems with vision and health of your eyes, hair loss.

  • Iron — anemia

  • Iodine –goiter, mental retardation in infants, and children if the mother was deficient in pregnancy.

  • Lutein and Zeaxanthin –eye problems.

  • Lycopene — heart disease, cancer,

  • Magnesium — Early signs of deficiency may be:  loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weakness. If it worsens, numbness, tingling, muscle contractions and cramps, seizures, personality changes, abnormal heart rhythms, and coronary spasms can occur  and if it gets worse, it can cause low levels of calcium and potassium in the blood.

  • Manganese–nausea, vomiting, dizziness, hearing loss, color of hair loss (going gray), excessive bone loss, high blood sugar, skin rash, reproductive issues

  • Pantethine (pantothenic) (vitamin B5)-high cholesterol, triglycerides, stress, rheumatoid arthritis, tingling in hands, burning feet, numbness in feet sometimes pain also, fatigue, headache

  • Potassium –heart problems, muscle problems

  • Phosphorus–Symptoms of phosphorus deficiency include loss of appetite, anxiety, bone pain, fragile bones, stiff joints, fatigue, irregular breathing, irritability, numbness, weakness, and weight change

  • Selenium–rare to be deficient

  • Quercetin — acts like an antihistamine and an anti-inflammatory, and may help protect against heart disease and cancer.

  • Zinc-growth retardation, loss of appetite, and impaired immune function. In more severe cases, zinc deficiency causes hair loss, diarrhea, delayed sexual maturation, impotence, hypogonadism in males, and eye and skin lesions, weight loss, delayed healing of wounds, taste abnormalities, and mental lethargy can also occur

Sources:

http://ods.od.nih.gov/index.aspx Has great charts

http://www.umm.edu/medref/

bottom of page