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Vitamins are essential micronutrients that support vital bodily functions. Insufficient intake of specific vitamins leads to deficiency disorders with characteristic symptoms. This article outlines major vitamin deficiencies and their associated diseases.

Common Vitamin Deficiency Disorders

Vitamin	Deficiency Disease	Primary Symptoms	At-Risk Groups	Dietary Sources
Vitamin A	Night blindness, Xerophthalmia	Poor night vision, dry eyes	Children, pregnant women	Liver, carrots, sweet potatoes
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)	Beriberi, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome	Weakness, nerve damage	Alcoholics, refined diet consumers	Whole grains, pork, legumes
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)	Pellagra	Dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia	Corn-dependent populations	Meat, fish, nuts
Vitamin B9 (Folate)	Megaloblastic anemia	Fatigue, birth defects	Pregnant women, alcoholics	Leafy greens, beans, citrus
Vitamin B12	Pernicious anemia	Nerve damage, fatigue	Elderly, vegans	Animal products, fortified foods
Vitamin C	Scurvy	Bleeding gums, poor wound healing	Smokers, limited fruit intake	Citrus fruits, peppers
Vitamin D	Rickets (children), Osteomalacia (adults)	Bone deformities, muscle weakness	Indoor workers, dark-skinned individuals	Sunlight, fatty fish
Vitamin K	Hemorrhagic disease	Excessive bleeding	Newborns, antibiotic users	Leafy greens, fermented foods

Key Deficiency Syndromes

1. Vitamin A Deficiency

• Causes the world’s leading preventable childhood blindness
• Compromises immune function, increasing infection risk
• Progressive stages: Night blindness → Bitot’s spots → Corneal ulceration

2. B-Complex Deficiencies

• Beriberi: Affects cardiovascular (wet type) or nervous (dry type) systems
• Pellagra: “3D” symptoms (Dermatitis, Diarrhea, Dementia)
• Pernicious anemia: Requires intramuscular B12 due to absorption issues

3. Vitamin D Deficiency

• In children: Causes bowed legs and stunted growth (rickets)
• In adults: Leads to bone pain and fractures (osteomalacia)
• Associated with increased autoimmune disease risk

Diagnostic Indicators

Deficiency	Diagnostic Tests	Threshold Values
Vitamin A	Serum retinol	<0.7 μmol/L
Vitamin D	25(OH)D levels	<50 nmol/L (insufficiency)
Vitamin B12	Serum B12 + MMA	<150 pg/mL + elevated MMA
Vitamin C	Plasma ascorbate	<11 μmol/L

Prevention and Management

• Dietary Interventions

Diversified diets with vitamin-rich foods

Food fortification programs (e.g., iodized salt, vitamin D milk)

• Supplementation Strategies

WHO recommends high-dose vitamin A for children in endemic areas

Prenatal folic acid to prevent neural tube defects

• Public Health Measures

Nutrition education programs

Routine screening for high-risk populations

Global Burden

• Vitamin A deficiency affects 190 million preschool children worldwide
• Over 1 billion people have insufficient vitamin D levels
• Iron-deficiency anemia (often with folate/B12 deficiency) impacts 40% of pregnant women globally

Conclusion

Vitamin deficiencies remain prevalent despite being largely preventable. Recognizing deficiency signs and implementing appropriate interventions can prevent serious health consequences. Regular monitoring of at-risk populations is essential for early detection and treatment.