Vitamin and mineral deficiencies cause health problems when your nutrient levels are too low. Not receiving enough vital nutrients could cause long-term symptoms and health issues. Knowing what deficiencies you have and how to prevent them is essential to staying healthy and avoiding more serious illnesses and symptoms.
Symptoms of Vitamin and Mineral Deficiency
Symptoms of nutrient deficiency occur when your normal bodily processes are not running as efficiently as they should. Symptoms of these deficiencies can often go unnoticed as some deficiencies will happen gradually and symptoms may seem minor.
Common symptoms of vitamin deficiency include:
- Fatigue, low energy
- Loss of bone density
- Poor night vision
- Dry skin and hair
- Depression
- Irritability
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Bleeding gums
- Poor wound healing (sores that last for a long time)
- Predisposition to infections
- Skin color changes (usually small, flat, light patches on your skin)
Common Causes of Vitamin & Mineral Deficiencies
The most common cause of vitamin and mineral deficiencies is not eating the right foods. Finding foods that are sources of essential nutrients is the easiest and most straightforward way to encourage intake and prevent vitamin and mineral deficiency.
People with dietary restrictions and allergies may struggle to find enough sources of the individual vitamins and minerals to intake sufficient amounts. Vegans and vegetarians may choose to take vitamin supplements to bridge the gap in the nutrients their diet may lack.
Malabsorption occurs when the intestines do not absorb nutrients properly and can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies even if you are eating the right foods. In more severe cases, malabsorption is caused by gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and celiac disease. In these cases, no additional amount of food or supplements can make up for the deficiency and you should speak to your doctor about the causes, symptoms, and possible treatments available.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies from poor diet variety or malabsorption share many common symptoms. However, symptoms can be general or specific to the vitamin or mineral they lack.
Some prevalent deficiencies include:
- Magnesium Deficiency
- Iron Deficiency
- Vitamin D Deficiency
- Vitamin B Deficiency
- Vitamin C Deficiency
- Vitamin K Deficiency
- Vitamin A Deficiency
- Vitamin E Deficiency
If you believe you are experiencing symptoms of vitamin deficiency or simply would like to know how you can support your body better, a vitamin and mineral deficiency test is available to you with Track Your Max. This can help you find out if your diet is supporting your body composition and health goals as well as inform you of any deficiencies so you can add food variety or supplements to your diet.
The physicians and consultants at Track Your Max in Webster, TX dedicate themselves to providing essential services to people who are taking their health seriously. Our team of professionals can help provide you with data and an understanding of your own body. Our doctors will help you improve your selfcare or refer you to the correct healthcare provider to meet your needs.
