The body requires various essential vitamins and minerals for a healthy individual to functional optimally. Various nutritional deficiencies can result in a number of diseases and health ailments. Hence a balanced diet is essential for the overall health of an individual. Certain vitamins or minerals are not naturally produced by the body and require to be obtained from the diet. Nutritional deficiency can occur by the inadequate consumption of essential nutrients or the abnormality in the body’s system to absorb it. Children are particularly at high risk of nutritional deficiencies that can create various complications. Some example of deficiency disease consist of anemia (iron), goiter (iodine), beriberi (vitamin B1), pellagra (vitamin B3), rickets (vitamin D) and osteoporosis (vitamin D and calcium).
Hypocalcemia
Hypocalcemia develops with a low level of calcium in the blood. Calcium is essential to maintain healthy bones and regulate various mechanisms of the body. The low level of calcium can be caused by the abnormality of the parathyroid gland, use of certain medications, vitamin D deficiency and kidney disorder. The symptoms of this include muscle cramps, confusion, forgetfulness and muscle stiffness. Extremely low level of calcium in the body can cause a tingling sensation, seizures and abnormal heart rhythms.
Beriberi
This disease develops as the result of vitamin B1 deficit in the body. This can occur in individuals with excessive alcohol consumption that can lead to poor nutrition as alcohol makes it difficult to absorb and store vitamin B1. The lack of vitamin B1 can include weight loss, confusion, cognitive symptoms, fatigue, nerve and muscle damage. Possible complications can include coma, congestive heart failure and death in some cases.
Goiter
Goiter is the swelling of the thyroid gland and is usually painless. Mostly, goiter does not present any symptoms and when it does, it can include coughing, difficulty in breathing, tight sensation of the throat, visible swelling of the neck, hoarse voice and difficulty swallowing. The common cause of goiter includes the iodine deficiency and may also be the result of other illness such as graves’ disease. The treatment can include surgery to remove the thyroid gland or medications to stabilize the hormone level in the body.
Rickets
This occurs in children with prolonged vitamin D deficiency. As a result, it can cause softening and weakening of the bones. Vitamin D is essential for the proper absorption of calcium. In some cases, lack of calcium can also cause rickets. Children who have various conditions such as celiac disease can also develop rickets as the result of their body’s inability to absorb vitamin D. Symptoms associated with rickets includes delayed growth, muscle weakness, pain in the legs and spine. Skeletal deformities associated with rickets can include bowed legs and breastbone projection. Rickets can be treated with calcium and vitamin D supplements.
Folate deficiency anemia (vitamin B12)
When vitamin b12 deficiency occurs, the body produces abnormally large red blood cells which are unable to function effectively. It is common in older people over the age of 65. Some of the causes of vitamin B12 deficiency include taking certain medications, lacking dietary vitamin B12 and pernicious anemia when the body prevents the absorption of nutritional vitamin B12. The symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can include fatigue, mouth ulcers, vision problems, lack of energy, muscle weakness and memory problems. This can usually be treated with supplements of vitamin B12.
References
http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/beriberi/overview.html
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/goiter/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20264932
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rickets/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20200471
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anaemia-vitamin-B12-and-folate-deficiency/Pages/Treatment.aspx
