Hypovitaminosis - What Is It And How Does It Affect Nutrition?

Hypovitaminosis or avitaminosis is a pathological condition that occurs in the body with insufficient intake of one or several vitamins.

What is hypovitaminosis?

Hypovitaminosis  or  avitaminosis  is a pathological condition that occurs in the body with insufficient intake of one or several vitamins.

The lack of vitamins  can manifest itself through various symptoms. By observing the symptoms, we can most easily determine which vitamins are lacking in our body and take appropriate treatment. As a result of the lack of vitamins, we cannot help but notice the changes that are happening in our body. These are changes that affect parts of the body such as hair, skin, eyes, nails and more.

Sometimes diagnosing hypovitaminosis can be quite a difficult task. Most often, hypovitaminosis is due to the lack of several vitamins in the body. Today, hypovitaminosis mostly affects the elderly and young children.  In general, the symptoms by which hypovitaminosis can be recognized are low weight, irritability, frequent depression, splitting nails, hair loss, skin problems, impaired vision, etc.

The treatment of hypovitaminosis is adherence to a diet determined by a specialist, which includes fruits, vegetables, cereals, seafood, meat, honey, eggs and dairy products.

Causes of hypovitaminosis:

Hypovitaminosis, also known as vitamin deficiency, occurs when there is a deficiency of vitamins in food or if the vitamins we take are not properly absorbed by the body.  In hypovitaminosis, there is a deficiency of one or several vitamins, and in avitaminosis, there is a complete lack of vitamins in the body. 

In addition to these two reasons, there are other factors that can also be the cause of the occurrence of hypovitaminosis. These are factors such as alcohol dependence, lack of bile, improper nutrition, drug addiction, genetic diseases, intestinal paralysis, surgical interventions of the stomach and intestines, intestinal malabsorption, kidney failure, and others. What we need to know is that, first of all, hypothyvaminosis occurs due to unfavorable living conditions and malnutrition.  
In order to be able to determine whether we suffer from hypovitaminosis, we must first know which vitamins, how they act on our body, what are the symptoms in the absence of certain vitamins and how to get vitamins through food. 

PREMIUM CHAPTERS ▼

Types of hypovitaminosis - symptoms and causes of occurrence (PREMIUM)

Hypovitaminosis A

Hypovitaminosis A is a condition of vitamin A deficiency that occurs as a result of:

-Vitamin deficiency in food

- Diseases that lead to a violation of the balance of vitamins.

Vitamin A (retinol) belongs to the group of fat-soluble vitamins, has pronounced antioxidant properties. It enters the body through various foods - liver, egg yolk, milk, butter, carrots, spinach and others. It performs a number of important biological functions:

-Synthesis of sex hormones 

-The functions of the  testicles  and  ovaries
-Formation of fat
-Maintaining the normal function of the retina of the eyes
-The formation of bones, teeth, hair
-Formation of the stratum corneum of skin cells, which is a natural protective barrier of the body
-Stimulating the synthesis of collagen and healing processes
- Restorative processes and the functions of the immune system
- It is important for the normal development of the fetus during pregnancy.

The following symptoms characterize the lack of vitamin A in the body:
-Dry, scaly, rough skin
-Premature aging of the skin
-Deterioration of vision in low light ("hen blindness")
-Brittle nails
-Dental hyperesthesia
-Xerophthalmia (dry eyes) and sensation of grit in the eyes
-Dry mucous membranes
-Problems with the gastrointestinal tract - gastritis, colitis, intestinal infections,  pancreatic cancer, liver disorders
-Infections of the respiratory tract - chronic bronchitis, pneumonia
-Sinusitis
-Anemia
-Insomnia
-Lethargy, exhaustion .

Reasons for the occurrence of hypovitaminosis A can be:
Primary deficiency of vitamin A - observed in:

- Malnutrition, a diet poor in proteins and fats. Chronic lack of proteins in the body can lead to the development of disease - marasmus, kwashiorkor

-Prolonged adherence to a strict diet.

Secondary vitamin A deficiency develops in:

-Liver diseases - the conversion of the provitamin beta-carotene into vitamin A takes place in the liver

-Impaired absorption and exchange of vitamin A in diseases of the intestines, pancreas, bile ducts

-Prolonged use of antimicrobials and antibiotics

-Conditions that require increased intake of vitamins - heavy physical exertion, prolonged exposure to adverse conditions (very low or high environmental temperatures).

 

Hypovitaminosis  D

Hypovitaminosis D is a condition of reduced levels of vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D refers to the group of calciferols, whose representatives are cholicalciferol (vitamin D3) and ergocalciferol (vitamin D2). The recommended daily dose of vitamin D is about 400  IU / day, while for small children, pregnant and lactating women, women in menopause the needs are increased - 500 - 600  IU / day and night.

The synthesis of vitamin D begins in the surface layers of the skin with the participation of ultraviolet light. The formed provitamins are subjected to hydroxylation in the liver and kidneys, in which the biologically active form of vitamin D is obtained.

Vitamin D also has the following actions:

- supports the function of parathyroid hormones secreted by the  parathyroid glands

- improves immune protection - supports
cell differentiation processes - helps
regulate the serum glucose level
- has a strong anti-inflammatory effect.

With a lack of vitamin D in the body, the following symptoms develop:

-Disturbed bone mineralization – osteomalacia and osteoporosis, deformation and frequent bone fractures

-Muscle weakness, myopathies

- Pain in bones and muscles

- In children - development of rickets, convulsions

-In menopausal women – increased risk of osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, neurological problems, cancers

- Damage to the teeth

-Depression

-Chronic fatigue

-Headache, impaired concentration

- Increased sweating

-Frequent respiratory tract infections

- Constipation.

Risk factors for the development of hypovitaminosis D are:

-Age - newborns, young children and the elderly have increased needs for vitamin D

- Menopause

-Insufficient intake of vitamin D in the diet (eggs, milk, fatty fish)

-Insufficient exposure to sunlight

-Obesity - significantly lower levels of vitamin D are found in overweight people

-There is an increased need for vitamin D in patients with hyper- or hypoparathyroidism, chronic liver diseases, intestinal malabsorption

-Conditions that impair the absorption of vitamin D in the digestive tract - celiac disease (gluten enteropathy), inflammatory bowel disease

-Medications and conditions that affect the processes of transforming vitamin D from inactive to active form
* Anticonvulsant drugs
* Antiretroviral drugs
* Severe liver diseases
* Chronic kidney diseases
* Nephrotic syndrome

-Some cancers.

 

Hypovitaminosis E

Hypovitaminosis E is a state of deficiency of vitamin E in the body. Daily needs of vitamin E are from 3 to 12  mg . The vitamin is delivered to the body through food - wheat, corn, rye, cabbage, peas, bananas, spinach, carrots, beef, eggs, almonds, peanuts, walnuts.

 Vitamin E is actually a group of chemical compounds called tocopherols (a group of 7 vitamins), among which d -alpha-tocopherol is the most important .  It is a fat-soluble vitamin that has a number of important biological functions in the body:

- Has a powerful antioxidant effect

- The normal formation of spermatozoa and the performance of sexual functions

- Ensures the resistance of erythrocytes to hemolysis

- Restorative and regenerative processes in tissues

- Participates in maintaining the tone of the skeletal muscles

- Synthesis of nucleic acids and nucleotides

- Lipotropic effect.

Vitamin E accumulates in certain depots in the body - the liver, adipose tissue, testicles and adrenal glands, pituitary gland.

Hypovitaminosis E manifests itself with the following clinical picture:
-Dry rough skin
-Hormonal disturbances -Disturbed
sex cycle -Disturbed
spermatogenesis
-Tendency to high blood pressure
-Anemia
-Tendency of erythrocytes to hemolysis
-Muscular dystrophy -Peripheral
neuropathy
-Immunosuppression
-Atrophy of the testicles, sterility
-Early embryonic mortality
-Necrosis of the liver.

Causes of vitamin E deficiency can be:

-Imbalanced diet and undernutrition, due to which the necessary daily amounts are not supplied

-Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that lead to impaired resorption of the vitamin:

* liver
* diseases of the pancreas

*biliary diseases.

-Peripheral neuropathy

- Taking some medications

*Anticonvulsants
*Cholesterol-lowering drugs

-Prolonged intake of mineral oils.

  

Hypovitaminosis  C

Hypovitaminosis C is a condition characterized by a lack of vitamin C in the body. Severe hypovitaminosis in infants leads to the development of  Barlow 's disease , and in adults - to the disease scurvy.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) belongs to the group of water-soluble vitamins. The recommended daily dose of vitamin C is 60-100 mg. However, the need for increased intake may occur under the influence of a number of factors - extreme heat or cold, physical overload, emotional stress, taking contraceptives, pregnancy, suppressed immune system, certain diseases, increased alcohol intake, smoking. Vitamin C cannot be synthesized by the body, therefore it is very important to get an optimal amount through food - rose hips, citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, kiwi), guava, vegetables.

Vitamin C is related to a large number of biological processes in the body:

- Has a powerful antioxidant effect

-Enzyme cofactor in a huge number of biochemical reactions

- Capillary-strengthening effect - protects against bleeding from the gums, the gastrointestinal tract

- Improves the activity of leukocytes, which are one of the body's main protective barriers

-Increases the body's immune reactivity (protection against flu and colds)

-Participates in the synthesis of collagen in the connective tissue

-Supports the synthesis of steroid hormones, neurotransmitters

- Improves iron absorption

-Together with vitamin A and selenium, they have a certain protective effect against the formation of cancer cells

-Strengthens the action of other vitamins with an antioxidant effect (vitamin A, E)

- Participates in the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids, protects against the development of atherosclerosis.

Hypovitaminosis C is characterized by the following symptoms: -Easy
fatigue
-Anemia
-Difficult wound healing
-Bleeding, swelling and soreness of the gums
-Danger of internal bleeding (from the stomach, intestines)
-Point-like hemorrhages on the skin
-Frequent infections (bacterial, viral, fungal)
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- Headache
- Irritability, depression - Impaired
concentration
- Impaired sleep.

Reasons for the occurrence of hypovitaminosis C can be:

- Malnutrition and insufficient food intake

- Improper preparation of food products - heat treatment leads to destruction of the vitamin

- Diseases of the digestive tract that lead to impaired absorption and assimilation of the vitamin

 

-Increased need due to - adverse conditions (cold, heat), pregnancy, breastfeeding, severe illnesses, in infants and very elderly people.