Diseases Caused By Deficiency Of Vitamins And Minerals

Vitamins and Minerals – Deficiency Diseases

Deficiency of Vitamins

Table lists some important vitamins and their sources, functions, deficiency diseases, and symptoms.

Vitamin and sources	Function	Deficiency disease	Symptoms
A Sources: Green leafy vegetables, fruits, butter, egg yolk, carrots, and fish	Keeps eyes, hair, and skin healthy	Night blindness	Dryness of eyes; improper vision
B1 Sources: Eggs, whole grains, and sprouts	Aids in digestion; maintains nervous system	Beriberi	Inflammation of nerves; digestive problems and heart abnormalities
B2 Sources: Eggs, milk, and green leafy vegetables	Keeps skin and mouth healthy	Skin disorders	Irritation of eyes; skin and intestinal disorders; inflammation of the tongue
B12 Sources: Meat	Formation of red blood cells	Anaemia	Pale skin; lack of stamina and appetite; frequent headaches
C Sources: Citrus fruits like lime, orange, and lemon; tomatoes and sprouts	Helps to resist infections and keeps teeth, gums, and joints healthy	Scurvy	Loosening of teeth; spongy and bleeding gums; increased susceptibility to diseases; slow healing of wounds; weakness; pain in the limbs
D, Sources: Milk, fish, and eggs; sunlight	Aids in the normal growth of bones in children	Rickets	Weak bones; joint and bone deformities like bow legs and pigeon chest; softening of ribs; protruding abdomen
K Sources: Spinach, cabbage, or any other green leafy vegetable	Helps in blood clotting (to stop bleeding)	Haemorrhage (excessive bleeding)	Affects clotting of blood

Some vitamins are very sensitive to heat and light. For example, vitamin C is easily destroyed during cooking. Therefore, vitamin C-rich food items should be eaten raw.

Scurvy was common among sailors in ancient times. Due to lack of cure, several sailors died of this disease during long voyages. In the 18th century, James Lind found that eating citrus fruits reduced the occurrence of scurvy in sailors.

Deficiency of Minerals

Table lists some important minerals and their sources, functions, deficiency diseases, and symptoms. Minerals also assist in certain chemical reactions in the body. Cooking does not destroy them.