Clinical Pearl Series from Yale-G First Aid: Crush USMLE Step 2CK & Step 3 by Yale Gong, MD, Sr. Medical Advisor at www.medicine.net (Copyrighted)

What Are Nutritional Effects and Deficiency Manifestations of Vitamins (Vit)?

Vit-A: Nutritional effects: It supports cell growth, vision, immune function, and fetal development. Deficiency: “OD” —Ocular lesions (xerosis, night blindness) and dry scaly skin. Excessive intake by pregnant women: fetal malformations.

Vit-B1 (thiamine): Nutritional effects: It supports heart and nervous system functions. Deficiency: Beriberi (“HEN”) —Heart failure, encephalopathy (Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome), neuritis, foot fungus.

Vit-B2 (riboflavin): Nutritional effects: It protects vision and epithelial integrity, prevents migraines and anemia, and reduces risk of cancer. Deficiencies: “ACC” —Stomatitis, cheilosis, corneal angiogenesis.

Vit-B3 (niacin): Nutritional effects: It supports skin, digestive, and nervous system functions. Deficiencies: Pellagra (“DDD”) —dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia.

Vit-B5 (pantothenate): Nutritional effects: It supports skin, digestive and heart functions. Deficiencies: Rare, dermatitis, enteritis, alopecia, adrenal insufficiency.

Vit-B6 (pyridoxine): Nutritional effects: It supports skin, hematopoietic and nervous system functions, improves anemia, mood, heart and brain function, and relieves nausea during pregnancy. Deficiency: “DNA” —Dermatitis, neuritis, anemia.

Vit B12 (cobalamin): Nutritional effects: It supports hematopoiesis and nervous system functions. Deficiencies: Rare (except in strict vegetarians), megaloblastic anemia, neuritis, glossitis, ligamentitis.

Vit-C: Nutritional Effects: As a potent antioxidant, it strengthens immunity, reduces tendency to hemorrhage in capillaries and mucous membranes, reduces risk of chronic and cardiovascular diseases, and reduces blood uric acid levels (and risk of gout). Deficiency: Scurvy—pseudoparalysis, candida lesions, mucous membrane bleeding.

Vit-D: Nutritional effects: It promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and the growth and development of bones and teeth, promotes functions of immune, nervous and cardiovascular systems. Deficiency: Craniotabes, rickets, infantile tetany, osteochondrosis (bone softening), painful hand and foot twitching, etc.

Vit-E: Nutritional benefits: It’s important nutrient for vision, brain, reproduction, blood and skin functions. It also has antioxidant and anti-aging properties. Deficiencies: “MAC” —Muscle weakness, anemia, creatinineuria.

Vit-K: Nutritional effects: It promotes clotting factors and hemostasis, reduces risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Deficiency: “BT” —Bleeding tendency (ecchymosis, petechiae, hematoma), hypoprothrombinogenemia.

Biotin (“Vit-H”): Nutritional effects: It regulates metabolic levels, protects the heart, promotes brain function, strengthens the immune system, and lowers blood glucose levels. Deficiency: “DE” —Dermatitis, enteritis.

Folic Acid: Nutritional effects: It prevents birth defects (neural tube defects, etc.), maintains brain health, mood and cognition, and reduces risk factors for heart disease (homocysteinemia, etc.). Deficiencies: “MA” —Megaloblastic anemia without neurologic symptoms.

Special rare nutrient: Selenium (Se): Nutritional Benefits: A powerful antioxidant that reduces risk of certain cancers and CVD, and helps maintain mental and thyroid functions. Deficiencies: Cardiomyopathy, certain cancers, cataracts, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, etc.