Vitamin deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency results in night blindness (also known as xeropthalmia or dry eye). In its early
stages, it can be cured by providing sufferers with vitamin A supplements such as palm oil or other
foods high in vitamin A. However, in its later stages it is incurable and leads to complete blindness
and in some cases death. Vitamin A deficiency can also cause itching, thickening of horny layer of the
skin, ageing of the skin, dry skin and loss of taste.
Vitamin B 1 deficiency can cause some or all of the following: neuritis (inflammation of the nerves),
headache, fatigue, poor memory, diarrhoea, anxiety, insomnia, depression, irritability, eczema,
dermatitis, acne, enlarged heart, muscle weakness, wrist and ankle drop, tenderness in calf muscles
and pins and needles in the legs.
Vitamin B 2 deficiency can cause chapped lips, sensitivity to light and skin rashes. It may also cause
red, itchy eyes, night blindness, cataracts, migraines, peripheral neuropathy, anaemia and tiredness.
There can also be some abnormalities associated with developments, e.g. cleft lip and palate, growth
problems and congenital heart defects.
With B3 deficiency people get pellagra, causing redness of skin, exfoliation of hands and face,
weakness, diarrhoea, memory loss, irritability and insomnia. Deficiency is rare and if supplements
are needed, they should be given under medical supervision.
B 5 deficiency can cause weakness, depression, and lowered resistance to infection, numbness,
muscle cramps, restlessness, sleep disturbances, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.
Deficiency is very rare.
B6 deficiency can cause anaemia, fatigue, nerve dysfunction, sore tongue, skin inflammation and
depression.
B9 deficiency can cause megaloblastic anaemia (abnormally large red blood cells), neutral tube
defects (e.g. spina bifida), nausea and headaches, memory loss, depression, loss of appetite and
diarrhoea.
B12 deficiency can lead to Pernicious anaemia, tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss,
breathlessness, diarrhoea, red and sore tongue, degeneration of nerve cells, a change in taste,
ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy, bleeding gums and loose teeth, incomplete cell repair, easy
bruising, tiredness and physical and mental stress.
Vitamin A deficiency results in night blindness (also known as xeropthalmia or dry eye). In its early
stages, it can be cured by providing sufferers with vitamin A supplements such as palm oil or other
foods high in vitamin A. However, in its later stages it is incurable and leads to complete blindness
and in some cases death. Vitamin A deficiency can also cause itching, thickening of horny layer of the
skin, ageing of the skin, dry skin and loss of taste.
Vitamin B 1 deficiency can cause some or all of the following: neuritis (inflammation of the nerves),
headache, fatigue, poor memory, diarrhoea, anxiety, insomnia, depression, irritability, eczema,
dermatitis, acne, enlarged heart, muscle weakness, wrist and ankle drop, tenderness in calf muscles
and pins and needles in the legs.
Vitamin B 2 deficiency can cause chapped lips, sensitivity to light and skin rashes. It may also cause
red, itchy eyes, night blindness, cataracts, migraines, peripheral neuropathy, anaemia and tiredness.
There can also be some abnormalities associated with developments, e.g. cleft lip and palate, growth
problems and congenital heart defects.
With B3 deficiency people get pellagra, causing redness of skin, exfoliation of hands and face,
weakness, diarrhoea, memory loss, irritability and insomnia. Deficiency is rare and if supplements
are needed, they should be given under medical supervision.
B 5 deficiency can cause weakness, depression, and lowered resistance to infection, numbness,
muscle cramps, restlessness, sleep disturbances, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.
Deficiency is very rare.
B6 deficiency can cause anaemia, fatigue, nerve dysfunction, sore tongue, skin inflammation and
depression.
B9 deficiency can cause megaloblastic anaemia (abnormally large red blood cells), neutral tube
defects (e.g. spina bifida), nausea and headaches, memory loss, depression, loss of appetite and
diarrhoea.
B12 deficiency can lead to Pernicious anaemia, tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss,
breathlessness, diarrhoea, red and sore tongue, degeneration of nerve cells, a change in taste,
ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy, bleeding gums and loose teeth, incomplete cell repair, easy
bruising, tiredness and physical and mental stress.
