Avitaminosis

What is avitaminosis?

Avitaminosis is any disease or condition caused by a chronic or long-lasting deficiency of one or more vitamins in the body.

An example of such diseases and conditions are: Beriberi (thiamine deficiency – Vitamin B1), rickets (lack of sufficient Vitamin D), pernicious anemia (Vitamin B12 deficiency), etc.<//strong>

Vitamin deficiency can affect every cell in the body, including those of the nervous system. Symptoms vary depending on the type and degree of avitaminosis.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of avitaminosis can vary depending on the specific vitamin that is lacking. There are many different types of vitamins that are essential for the proper functioning of the body.

Some of the symptoms of various types of avitaminosis include:

Pellagra

This is a rare disease that is often associated with insufficient intake of vitamin B3 (niacin). Symptoms include skin problems, diarrhea and neurological disorders.

Rickets

Insufficient intake of vitamin D can lead to rickets, which is a disease characterized by weakened and deformed bones, especially in children.

Beri-beri

This is a rare disease, usually caused by insufficient intake of vitamin B1 (thiamine). Symptoms include nervous system problems, heart problems and muscle weakness.

Hen blindness

Night blindness, also called “hen blindness”, can develop with insufficient intake of vitamin A. This vitamin is important for vision and the immune system.

Frequent bleeding

Insufficient intake of vitamin K can lead to difficulty in pumping blood and disrupting bleeding.

Scurvy

This symptom of avitaminosis is due to insufficient intake of vitamin C. It is characterized by skin problems, hemorrhages and weakness.

Pernicious anemia

This is a type of avitaminosis that is associated with a deficiency of vitamin B12. Symptoms include pale skin, fatigue, heart problems and neurological disorders.

If a specific vitamin deficiency is suspected, it is always a good idea to consult your healthcare professional to get the correct diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

What are the causes of avitaminosis?

Usually the causes of avitaminosis are:

• Inability to provide enough variety of food in your daily menu.
• Insufficient exposure of the body to sunlight.
• Destruction of vitamins during food preparation due to high cooking temperature or prolonged cooking in a pot without a lid.
• Chronic diarrhea.< /li>
• Regular use of mineral oil.
• Inability of the body to absorb certain vitamins.

Treatment of avitaminosis

There is no single method of treatment for avitaminosis. Each of the symptoms of the disease represents a separate disease or condition that is treated by prescribing a balanced diet that counteracts the deficiency of the corresponding vitamins.

The main thing that needs to be done by your treating doctor is to identify which vitamin deficiency is present in the particular patient.

In this regard, treatment should be prescribed as soon as possible before the patient’s condition worsens.

In milder cases of avitaminosis, improvement begins after starting to take the deficient vitamins in the form of food supplements in tablets.

For weaker people, the time required for full recovery is about 3-4 weeks.

For more severe cases, hospitalization and switching to vitamin injections may also be necessary.

The most important thing in the treatment of avitaminosis is to provide the sickest with as varied food as possible, including fruits and vegetables.

Make sure you eat whole grains. If possible, you should eat beans, peas and chickpeas. This will ensure you not only have a sufficient intake of vitamins, but also of minerals and proteins.

Folk recipes for the treatment of avitaminosis:

• Mix 10 grams of mint, 20 grams of nettle, 10 grams of primrose, 10 grams of raspberries, 30 grams of rosehip. Put one tablespoon of the mixture in a glass of warm water and drink two glasses a day.

How to protect ourselves?

• Eat a varied diet. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and dairy products are foods that must be included in your daily menu to avoid avitaminosis. If you cannot tolerate them, eat at least one fruit and vegetable a day.
• Limit the use of mineral oils.
• Use in cooking of food vegetable fats. The ideal choice is olive oil and peanut butter.