Common Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiencies

Everyone knows it is important to incorporate a well-balanced diet full of vitamins and nutrients for a healthy lifestyle—yet the impact from a lack of certain nutrients can have drastic and sometimes painful physical symptoms.

These symptoms are the human body’s way of communicating the lack of vitamins and minerals it needs to function properly.

Know these common signs and symptoms of vitamin deficiencies:

1. Brittle hair and nails

While several factors may cause brittle hair and nails, a common is a lack of biotin.

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, helps the body convert food into energy. A biotin deficiency can cause brittle, thinning, or splitting hair and nails. Other symptoms include cramps, fatigue, muscle pain, tingling in the hands and feet.

Women who are pregnant, heavy consumers of tobacco or alcohol, as well as those who live with digestive disorders are at the greatest risk of developing biotin deficiency. Research found that the prolonged use of antibiotics and some medications used to treat seizure disorders can also put people at a risk for biotin deficiency.

How to increase biotin in your body:

Foods rich in biotin include eggs, fish, meat, dairy, nuts, seeds, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, yeast, whole grains, and bananas. Nova Vita Wellness Centers offers booster shots of Biotin as well as a vitamin infusion consisting of a nutrient-dense cocktail that promotes healthy hair and nail growth, skin hydration, and collagen formation through Biotin and other supplements.

2. Cracks/ulcers in the mouth area

Lesions in and around the mouth could be linked to an insufficient intake of certain vitamins. For instance, mouth ulcers, also known as canker sores, are often the result of an iron deficiency or a lack of B vitamins.

A study published in the journal Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, and Oral Radiology found that patients with mouth ulcers were twice as likely to have low iron levels.

Results from a different study published in the Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine showed nearly 30% of patients with mouth ulcers had deficiencies in three B Vitamins: thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and pyridoxine (vitamin B6).

Good sources of thiamine, riboflavin, and pyridoxine include whole grains, poultry, meat, fish, eggs, dairy, organ meats, legumes, green vegetables, starchy vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

3. Bleeding gums

There are several causes of bleeding gums, including improper dental care and other diseases, yet a diet lacking in vitamin C can also be to blame.

It is common knowledge how important Vitamin C is for the immune system, yet it also aids in wound healing and acts as an antioxidant by helping to prevent cell damage.

The human body cannot produce vitamin C on its own, therefore one must maintain proper levels through diet or supplements. If one does not consume enough vitamin C for a long period of time, in addition to bleeding gums tooth loss, bruising, dry skin, and nosebleeds can occur.

Nova Vita Wellness Centers offers Vitamin C booster shots as well as our popular High Vitamin C infusion.

4. Poor night vision

A nutrient-poor diet can sometimes cause vision problems. Vitamin A is one of the most important vitamins for healthy vision, and low levels are often linked to a condition known as night blindness. This condition, also known as nyctalopia, makes it difficult for people to see in dim light or darkness. It is linked to vitamin A since the nutrient is necessary to produce rhodopsin—a pigment found in the retinas of the eyes that helps you see at night.

Anyone that feels like their vitamin A intake is insufficient can try eating more foods high in Vitamin A, such as liver and fish oils, milk, eggs, leafy green vegetables, orange and yellow vegetables, tomato products, fruits, and some vegetable oils.

5. Hair loss

Hair loss is common among adults and while genetics often play a role, a deficiency in vitamins and nutrients can also be a factor. Research published in the journal Dermatology Practical & Conceptual found that diet and nutrients can help to prevent or slow down the rate of hair loss. Results from the study Diet and Hair Loss: Effects of Nutrient Deficiency and Supplement Use identified the following vitamins and nutrients to be beneficial for treating hair loss:

• Iron: This mineral is involved in DNA synthesis, including that of the DNA present in the skin from which hair grows. A lack of iron can cause hair to stop growing or fall out.
• Zinc: This mineral is essential for protein synthesis and cell division. Both of these are needed for hair growth. As a result, a lack of zinc in the body may cause hair loss.
• Niacin: Also known as Vitamin B3, Niacin is necessary for keeping hair healthy. Alopecia, a condition in which hair
  falls out in small patches, is one possible symptom of niacin deficiency according to a study from the late 1970s published in The Johns Hopkins Medical Journal.
• Biotin: Biotin, also known as Vitamin B7, is another B vitamin that may be linked to hair loss if the body does not get the levels it needs. Another name for Biotin is Vitamin H, which comes from the German words Haut and Haar, meaning “skin” and “hair” respectively. Deficiencies in biotin are associated with hair loss and skin rashes around the eyes, nose and mouth, according to a study published in Dermatology Practical & Conceptual, the official journal of the International Dermoscopy Society.

Check Vitamin Levels with a Micronutrient Test from Nova Vita Wellness Centers:

Nova Vita Wellness Centers provides highly detailed micronutrient testing by examining deficiencies at the cellular level. Our micronutrient test requires a small blood sample that can be used to examine 31 vitamins, amino acids, minerals, antioxidants and metabolites that are required by the body to produce hormones, enzymes and other substances needed for good health. While many tests available today concentrate on the amount of nutrients outside of the cell (extracellular), our assessment analyzes the functional level and capability of micronutrients within white blood cells. The advantage to this approach is that it looks at the impact and performance of the micronutrients where they matter most.

Schedule a Micronutrient Test at Nova Vita Wellness Centers today.