Vitamin Deficiency

PBL 15 Presentation
Deficiencies of Fat
Soluble Vitamins
What are vitamin deficiencies?
Vitamin deficiency is when the body has no enough vitamins of a specific
type. It could be due to several reasons including malnutrition,
malabsorption or genetic problems due to mutation.
Which vitamins does the body need?
1.Fat soluble: 2.Water soluble:
Vitamin A (Eman) Vitamin B1 (Nada)
Vitamin D (Hager) Vitamin B2 (Dalia)
Vitamin E (Reem) Vitamin B3 (Maryam)
Vitamin K (Manar) Vitamin B5 (Karim)
Vitamin B6 (Mohamed Magdi)
Vitamin B7 (Mostafa)
Vitamin B9 (Mostafa)
Vitamin B12 (Mohamed Alshishiny)
Vitamin C (Mohamed Elhussein)
 Vitamin A (retinol) Deficiency
1. Deficiency results from :
● Inadequate vitamin A intake
Diet poor in beef liver _ salmon _ cheese _ carrot _ butter

● Pancreatic Insufficiency
When the pancreas function correctly it secretes a group of proteins into the small intestine to help with
digestion . in the case of the pancreatic insufficiency it doesn’t secrets enough of those substance

● Small Bowel Bypass Surgery

Small bowel bypass surgery can also lead to a vitamin A deficiency because removing part of the intestine changes the
way the body absorbs nutrient

● Liver disorder
Diseases caused by vitamin A
● Eye diseases
Night blindness . corneal xerosis . keratomalacia

● Poor immunity

Repeated infection

● Anemia
● Poor hair health
● Poor skin health
The symptoms of the deficiency
Dry skin dry eyes night blinding

Dry skin :Vitamin A is important for the creation and repair of skin cells. It also helps fight inflammation due to
certain skin issues

Dry eyes ;Eye problems are some of the most well-known issues related to vitamin A deficiency

Night blinding : Severe vitamin A deficiency can lead to night blindness

Delayed growth throat and chest infection poor wound
healing
Acne and break out
Vitamin D (Calciferol hormone) Deficiency
Deficiency results from:
● Low exposure of skin to sunlight
● Living in northern areas which have low sunlight hours (this is
made worse when the person has dark skin)
● Always using sunscreen when going out
● Staying indoors for most of the day

Consequences of vitamin D deficiency on bones:

● Rickets in children: soft bones, stunted growth, deformities in skeleton (like
bowlegs)
● Osteomalacia in adults: bone deformation, bowing of legs and bending of
back with age, easier fracturing of bones
● Osteoporosis: progressive loss of bone density and bone thinning with age,
making bones porous and weaker
Vitamin D (Calciferol hormone) Deficiency
Consequences of vitamin D deficiency (these are harder to identify since they
could have many potential causes):
● Bone and back pain
● Fatigue and tiredness
● Easily getting infections: since vitamin D supports the immune system

Treatment:
● Taking vitamin D supplements: more effective for people with darker skin and
are forced to spend a long time indoors for work
● Longer exposure to sunlight: more effective for
people with lighter skin
● Higher intake of vitamin D rich food:
oily fish, red meat, liver, egg yolk
Vitamin E Deficiency
Sources:
● Wheat -gram oil
● Egg yolk
● Liver
● Fish & meat
● Cereals

Functions:
● Antioxidant, blocks the oxidative damage to DNA and cells .
● Alpha tocopherol is used to prevent cataract & cancer .
● Protect RBCs from toxic haemolysis .
● Plays role in aging and sexual performance .
● Protects from heart disease
 Vitamin E Deficiency
Deficiency:

● Erythrocyte hemolysis and hemolytic anemia

disruption of RBC membrane ,perhaps due to

polyunsaturated fatty acids oxidation.

- Male sterility,habitual abortion, fibromyositis &

weak muscles.

Toxicity:

● Nausea , headache & fatigue.

● Impair absorption of fat soluble vitamins & block
action of Vitamin K.
Vitamin K Deficiency
Etiology of deficiency

Neonates are prone to vitamin K deficiency because of the following:

• The placenta transmits lipids and vitamin K relatively poorly.

• Breast milk is low in vitamin K

• The neonatal gut does not contain bacterial flora

In adults, vitamin K deficiency can result from

• Fat malabsorption (eg, due to biliary obstruction)

• Use of coumarin anticoagulants

Disease caused by it : Hemorrhagic disease
Symptoms and Signs

• Bleeding is the usual manifestation (epistaxis, menorrhagia and hematuria)

• Hemorrhagic disease like intrathoracic or intracranial bleeding.

• Prolonged prothrombin time

Treatment

• Phytonadione should be given orally or subcutaneously.

• The usual adult dose is 1 to 20 mg.

Deficiencies of
Water Soluble
Vitamins
Vitamin B1 Deficiency
1) What causes Vitamin B1 Deficiency ?
Not enough thiamine because of :
● Poor Intake → high in polished rice/processed grains, low in meat, eggs, nuts, and vegetables.
● Poor absorption → Malnutrition, Gastric bypass surgery, Malabsorption.
● Increased loss → Diahrrea.
● Increased thiamin utilization → Pregnancy.
● Drugs that can lead to thiamine deficiency
2) Diseases Caused by Vitamin B1 Deficiency :
Beri Beri, which has two types : Wet beriberi (affects heart and circulatory system) & Dry
beriberi (damages the nerves and can lead to decreased muscle strength and
eventually, muscle paralysis).
Thalamus + Hypothalamus
3) Symptoms : 4) How to overcome Vitamin B1 Deficiency
and Prevent it :
Vitamin B2 Deficiency
What causes the deficiency :

● Insufficient intake of the vitamin in the diet of an individual

● Inability of the body to use the vitamin due to conditions that affect the absorption in the
intestines
● Increase in the excretion of the vitamin in urine from the body
● Endocrine abnormalities

Disease caused by the it :

● Vitamin b2 deficiency is also known as ariboflavinosis

Symptoms :

● Angular stomatitis of the mouth and tongue

● seborrheic dermatitis around the nose, eyes and ears
● Anemia
● Chronic diarrhea
● Photophobia ( light sensitivity)
● Magenta tongue
● Lips develop cracks and become red (cheilosis)
● Itching and bloodshot eyes

Treatment :

● People who have riboflavin deficiency are given high doses of riboflavin (vitamin b2 ), taken
by mouth, until symptoms resolve.
● Ariboflavinosis can be avoided by building a diet rich in vitamin b2 that can be found in food
such as ,milk, egg, grains or meat
 Vitamin B3 Deficiency
Causes:

❏ Eating food not rich in vitamin B3.

❏ Various diseases such as problems with the body absorption of element, liver
disease, diarrhea and alcoholism.

Diseases:

They result from either severe or less deficiency.

Severe deficiency:

❏ Leads to pellagra disease.

❏ Affects the skin, nervous and digestive system.

Symptoms of pellagra:

1. Pain and burning in the throat and stomach.

2. Changes in personality and mental health.
3. Butterfly-shaped lesions on the face or necklace lesions around the neck.
4. Signs appearing on the area exposed to the sun.
5. Infection with ulcers on the lips or under the tongue.
Less deficiency:

❏ It leads to:

1.Headaches. 2. Mood issues.

3. Fatigue. 4. Red skin.

Treatment:

1st way eating food that contain the vitamin such as soya milk, soy burger, avocado
and peanuts.

2nd way take vitamin B3 supplement (under the doctor’s advice).

Vitamin B5 Deficiency
Vitamin B6 Deficiency
Vitamin B6 deficiency is most common in people with liver, kidney, digestive or
autoimmune diseases, as well as smokers, obese people, alcoholics and pregnant
women. Inadequate vitamin B6 status is usually associated with low
concentrations of other B-complex vitamins, such as vitamin B12 and folic acid.

What causes Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) deficiency?

Most often results from:

● Malnutrition : organ meats (e.g. liver), whole-grain cereals, fish, and

legumes
● Malabsorption
● Alcoholism
 ● Use of pyridoxine-inactivating drugs (eg, antiseizure drugs)
● Excessive loss during hemodialysis (blood cleaning)

Rarely results from:

● Increased metabolic demand (eg, in hyperthyroidism)

Diseases:

● Peripheral neuropathy (conditions that result when nerves that carry

messages to and from the brain and spinal cord from and to the rest of the
body are damaged or diseased)
Individuals with mild deficiency of vitamin B6 might have no deficiency signs or
symptoms for months or even years.

Symptoms:

● Skin Rashes
● Cracked and Sore Lips
● Sore, Glossy Tongue
● Mood Changes
● Weakened Immune Function
● Tiredness and Low Energy
 ● Tingling and Pain in Hands and Feet
● Seizures
● High Homocysteine (common amino acid in blood) (H.Ls correlate risk factors
for heart disease)

In infants symptoms include:

● Irritability
● Abnormally acute hearing
● Convulsive seizures

Treatment:

● VIT B6 supplements and/or a diet rich in VIT B6

 Vitamin B7 Deficiency
Causes of biotin deficiency:
1. Medications. 2.Intestinal problems 3.Poor dietary intake

Clinical features:
1.Lethargy 2.Depression. 3.Hypotonia 4.Hallucinations

Symptoms:
1.Hair loss. 2.Dry skin. 3.Conjunctivitis

Treatments:
1.Foods contain biotin. 2.Biotin supplementation
 Vitamin B9 Deficiency
Causes of folate deficiency:

Dietary intake. 2.Absorption. 3.Pregnancy

Symptoms:

1.Neural tube defect in fetus. 2.Glossitis. 3.Megaloblastic anemia. 4.pancytopenia

Treatment:
 Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamins) is essential to growth, cell reproduction,
hematopoiesis, and nucleoprotein and myelin synthesis, when a lack of this
vitamin affects the body's ability to produce fully functioning.

● Vitamin B12 deficiency can result from:

· Inadequate intake.

· Inadequate absorption.

· Use of certain drugs.

REFERENCE: www.msdmanuals.com
 ● Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to:

1. Megaloblastic anemia:
the bone marrow produces unusually large, structurally abnormal, immature RBCs.

REFERENCE: www.rarediseases.org
 ● Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to:

2. Pancytopenia:
Decrease red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

REFERENCE: www.healthline.com
 ● Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to:

3. Peripheral neuropathy:
Result of damage to the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves)

REFERENCE: WWW.MAYOCLINIC.ORG
 ● Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to:

4. Demyelination:
Results in damage to the protective covering (myelin sheath)
that surrounds nerve fibers in your brain, optic nerves and spinal cord.

REFERENCE: www.nhs.uk
Vitamin C Deficiency
What causes Vitamin C deficiency:
-Diet poor in ascorbic acid sources (ex. Citrus fruits)
-Excessive smoking and alcohol consumption ()
-Anorexia (loss of appetite and constantly wanting to lose weight)
-Kidney dialysis (VitC is lost during fluid exchange in dialysis as it is water soluble)
-Type(I) diabetes
Diseases associated with Vitamin C deficiency:
-Scurvy: insufficient or incorrect production of collagen fibres due to absence of
ascorbic acid, leading to weaker skin, vessels and tissues
Symptoms related to Vitamin C deficiency:
-Gingivitis (inflammation of the gum)
-Dry skin and hair
-Nosebleeds
-Easy bruises (as vessels rupture easily)
-Swollen joints and weak bones
-Slow wound healing (VitC is needed for tissue repair)
-Poor immunity (VitC helps WBC against infections)
-Iron deficiency (VitC helps to absorb Iron from food)
-Fatigue and irritability (in the first 24hrs of deficiency)
Treatment and ways to overcome Vitamin C deficiency:
-3 daily doses of 100 to 500 mg of ascorbic acid taken orally for 1 to 2 weeks until
symptoms disappear, followed by a diet including twice the needed content through
natural sources of Vitamin C
-Smokers need 35 mg more than others daily
-Use of Vitamin C supplements
THANK YOU!