Avitaminosis is the lack of vitamins in the body and is normally caused when there is an inadequate diet, consuming low amounts of vitamins. It can also happen when you consume good amounts, but the body is unable to absorb vitamins from food or supplements well, in cases of intestinal changes such as diarrhea or use of medications that hinder the absorption of vitamins.
The best way to consume all the vitamins necessary for the body to function properly is to eat a healthy and varied diet, preferably including fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. However, vitamin supplementation can be an alternative to treat vitamin deficiency (avitaminosis) and its complications. It is important to remember that the consumption of vitamin supplements should not replace a balanced diet and should also not be consumed without medical guidance and supervision.
Diseases caused by lack of vitamins
A lack of vitamins can lead to the emergence of some diseases and the symptoms vary according to the type and level of deficiency of each vitamin.
1. Lack of vitamin D
Vitamin D in the body becomes low when there is little sun, as sunlight is the main source for the production of this vitamin in the body. In addition to the sun, low consumption of foods such as salmon, sardines, milk and dairy products can also cause a lack of this vitamin.
Symptoms: Vitamin D deficiency can cause pain in the bones and muscles, as well as weakness in the arm muscles. In the most serious cases, vitamin D deficiency can cause osteomalacia, a disease that causes bones to weaken and break down. In children, vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets, a disease that can cause weakening of bones, fatigue and hinder growth in children.
Treatment: to improve vitamin D levels in the body, vitamin supplementation is normally taken. Furthermore, it is important to consume foods with good amounts of vitamin D, such as milk and dairy products, fish liver oil and oysters. Practicing physical or leisure activities outdoors for at least 15 minutes, with legs and arms exposed to the sun every day, is also recommended. Find out how to increase the production of vitamin D in the body.
2. Lack of vitamin C
Low intake of foods that are sources of vitamin C leads to a low level of this vitamin in the body. Furthermore, in smokers the need for the vitamin is greater and when you have diarrhea, a lot of this vitamin is eliminated through the feces, causing a reduction in vitamin C in the body.
Symptoms: the most common symptoms are frequent colds and flu, bleeding and red spots on the skin. Severe vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy, a disease where symptoms are generally weakness, reduced hunger, anemia and bleeding, inflammation and swelling of the gums, which can also cause tooth loss.
Treatment: supplements are normally used and it is important to increase the consumption of vegetables rich in vitamin C, such as orange, cashew, acerola, papaya, mango and broccoli. Check out other foods rich in vitamin C.
3. Lack of vitamin A
A lack of vitamin A can happen in babies when the mother has a vitamin deficiency during pregnancy or when the baby does not breastfeed. In adults, deficiency can occur due to diarrhea, for example, reducing the absorption of the vitamin or due to low consumption of foods that are sources of the vitamin, such as milk and dairy products, dark green leaves, yellow fruits or vegetable oils.
Symptoms: a lack of vitamin A can cause infections, colds and flu, dry skin and eyes, anemia, difficulty seeing at night, and in more serious cases, total loss of vision.
Treatment: The lack of this vitamin in the body is treated with high-dose vitamin A supplementation. In addition to supplements, it is important to increase your consumption of foods rich in vitamin A, such as green vegetables and yellow-orange fruits and vegetables. See which foods are rich in vitamin A.
4. Lack of vitamin E
A lack of vitamin E in the body is very rare and occurs in underweight children or in people who have problems absorbing fat from food, as happens in cases of diarrhea, as this vitamin needs fat from food to be used in the body.
Symptoms: a lack of this vitamin in the body is very rare and, when it happens, it can lead to changes in some nerves in the body, causing tingling, muscle weakness and vision problems.
Treatment: supplementation with high amounts of vitamin E and the consumption of foods rich in vitamin E, such as olive oil, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts and whole grains, are important to increase the levels of this vitamin in the body. Discover 21 foods rich in vitamin E.
5. Lack of vitamin K
Low vitamin K in the body is very rare and, when it happens, it can be caused by the use of some medications such as antibiotics and anticoagulants, low consumption of foods that are sources of the vitamin or health problems that reduce the absorption of the vitamin, such as gastritis, cancer and alcoholism.
Symptoms: a lack of this vitamin in the body can reduce blood clotting, increasing the chances of bleeding, which is caused when the body’s veins burst.
Treatment: the consumption of foods rich in vitamin K, such as dark green leafy vegetables: broccoli, spinach and lettuce, carrots, eggs and milk and dairy products, is essential to increase the levels of this vitamin in the body. See other foods that are sources of vitamin K.
6. Lack of B vitamins
The lack of B vitamins occurs mainly when you consume few foods that are sources of these vitamins or when you are underweight. But some specific situations can lead to a lack of these vitamins.
Frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages, a diet rich in carbohydrates, diarrhea and vomiting decrease the absorption of vitamin B1 and B7 in the body. The lack of vitamin B9 is common, as many medications reduce the absorption of the vitamin, in addition to pregnancy, breastfeeding and diseases such as leukemia, increasing the need for this vitamin.
Although a lack of vitamin B12 is rare, in vegetarians, vegans and gastritis, a lack of this vitamin in the body is more common. A lack of vitamin B8 can happen when there is a change in the functioning of the liver, in cases of a lot of fat in the liver, for example.
Symptoms: a lack of B vitamins usually causes symptoms such as irritation, tiredness, anxiety, hair loss, insomnia and inflammation in the skin, eyes and mouth.
However, the lack of some specific vitamins can lead to more serious health complications. For example, an excessive lack of vitamin B1 can cause beriberi, a disease that causes symptoms such as swelling of the legs, numbness, difficulty breathing and heart problems. A high lack of vitamin B3 causes pellagra, a disease that causes diarrhea, skin inflammation and dementia.
The decrease in vitamin B9 in pregnant women can lead to complications such as miscarriages, bleeding and pre-eclampsia, which is when the mother has pressure.
A lack of vitamin B12 can cause depression, anemia, weakness, dizziness and serious changes in the nervous system, such as hallucinations and memory loss.
Treatment: supplementation with B vitamins and the consumption of foods that are sources of these vitamins, such as meat, fish and vegetables, help to balance vitamin levels in the body and avoid complications. Find out which foods are a source of B vitamins.
Tests to confirm lack of vitamins
To diagnose diseases linked to avitaminosis, in addition to the patient’s symptoms and clinical history, there are clinical tests to identify exactly which vitamin is missing in the body.
Blood and urine tests are the most used to assess the lack of vitamins in the body. In some cases, imaging tests can also be used to evaluate changes in the nervous system or bones. The only one that does not have a specific test to diagnose a lack in the body is vitamin B5.
The ideal is to always consult a doctor to evaluate the symptoms and identify which vitamin is missing and also a nutritionist, to create a dietary plan, with or without the help of supplements, that allows you to reverse the lack of the vitamin.
