Vitamin deficiencies can give you a variety of symptoms that many people find perplexing, or may think are just part of everyday life. However, once on a vitamin regimen, many people see that many of these symptoms go away.
Here are some signs of a vitamin deficiency:
- Dry skin, night blindness, bone and teeth deformities, and dry eyes are all signs of a possible Vitamin A deficiency. There is a USRDA, or U.S. recommended daily allowance, of 5,000 I.U. for Vitamin A.
- Vitamin D deficiencies can be shown manifesting in the conditions of rickets or osteoporosis. A good Vitamin D supplement can help. Vitamin D has a 400 I.U. recommended daily allowance.
- Weight loss, teeth and gum problems, and the health condition scurvy are all signs that point to a Vitamin C deficiency. A good supplement for Vitamin C can help. The U.S. recommended daily recommendation for Vitamin C is 160 mg.
- Vitamin B deficiencies can show signs of anemia, skin problems, and the health condition beri-beri. Taking a B-complex supplement can help combat any Vitamin B deficiency. There are different U.S. recommended daily allowances of the B vitamins. B1 has 1.5 mg as its recommended allowance, while B2 has 1.7 mg, B6 has 2 mg, and B12 has 6 mcg as the recommended daily allowance.
- Blood clotting problems can be a sign of a Vitamin K deficiency in the body. There is no USRDA for Vitamin K.
- Sterility may be due to a lack of Vitamin E in the body. There is a USRDA of 30 I.U. for Vitamin E.
Multi-Vitamin – Great Addition to Your Nutrition Program
A good a multi-vitamin as part of your nutrition program is a great place to start. Sometimes, you’ll find that a single vitamin supplement is also beneficial.
A 2002 study described in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that the elderly and those at risk of some chronic disease can benefit from vitamin supplements. The study stated that:
“[M]ost people do not consume an optimal amount of all vitamins by diet alone. Pending strong evidence of effectiveness from randomized trials, it appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements.”
Multivitamins can be beneficial for most everyone because, even if you are not old or ill, it is hard to get all the essential nutrients from the foods you eat.
Please note: Always talk with your doctor or healthcare provider when starting a vitamin program, you may have very specific needs or health conditions that may not do well with the additional of vitamins. Vitamins should also be offered whenever a doctor asks if “you are taking anything.” Many times patients do not include over-the-counter items or vitamins, when they should. A doctor may be able to check to make sure you are indeed deficient in certain vitamins. It is important not to overdo taking vitamin supplements as well. While correcting a deficiency is better for your health, taking more than you need is not ideal.
