The lack of any essential nutrients in the body can lead to deficiency diseases. The deficiency of various diseases can eventually lead to problems. When you have been losing vitamins and minerals in your body, you are likely to be a victim of various diseases. 

Having a healthy and balanced diet is the key way to staying healthy. However, there are certain conditions when your body will need extra care. It is advisable to keep a check on what you’re consuming on a daily basis. Not maintaining your diet for a prolonged period can cause various damages to the body. Read this article to find more about deficiency diseases due to different vitamins. 

What are Vitamins? 

Vitamins are an important part of our diet. When you have a sufficient amount of vitamins there will be no risk of deficiency. While vitamin supplements are available in the market, you can also obtain vitamins from your food. 

Naturally obtained vitamins are extremely important. You must follow a balanced diet to consume vitamins and minerals. It is advisable that you maintain a well-balanced diet so that the healthy levels of vitamins are met. When you have sufficient supplementation, you can stay healthy. However, if you are s

What are Deficiency Diseases? 

For a healthy body, a nutritious and balanced diet is crucial for the body. Any type of imbalance in the diet can lead to various diseases. The insufficient consumption of nutrients causes different diseases. It is advisable to consume all nutrients in limited quantities. However, the insufficient or excess consumption of a particular nutrient will eventually lead to diseases. 

Different Types of Deficiency Diseases

The deficiency diseases happen because of the lack of necessary vitamins and minerals in the body. In the table below, there is a list of deficiency diseases that may happen because of the lack of certain vitamins or minerals in the body:

Types of Vitamins	Deficiency Diseases
A (Retinol)	Night blindness
B1 (Thiamine)	Beri-beri
B2 (Riboflavin)	Retarded growth, bad skin
B12 (Cyanocobalamin)	Anaemia
C (Ascorbic acid)	Scurvy
D (Calciferol)	Rickets
K (Phylloquinone)	Excessive bleeding due to injury
Types of Minerals	Deficiency Diseases
Calcium	Brittle bones, excessive bleeding
Phosphorus	Bad teeth and bones
Iron	Anaemia
Iodine	Goitre, enlarged thyroid gland
Copper	Low appetite, retarded growth

Vitamin A

Vitamin A has a wide range of functions in the body. It is responsible for regulating the immune system and maintaining healthy skin, tissue and teeth. Furthermore, it also helps to produce the pigments in the retina of the eye that is helpful for promoting good vision. 

The deficiency of Vitamin A can lead to problems with these. You can find vitamin A supplements or from plants as well. Vitamin A may be found in animals as well. The animal sources of vitamin A include whole milk, liver, and fortified foods. On the other hand, the plant sources of vitamin A include kale, cantaloupe, spinach and carrots. 

The international units of retinol activity equivalents list the recommended dietary allowances that are to be followed. It is crucial to maintain that amount for consumption.

The RDA for vitamin A is given in the table below:

Age	Males	Females	Pregnancy	Lactation
1-3 years	1,000 IU	1,000 IU	N/A	N/A
4-8 years	1,320 IU	1,320 IU	N/A	N/A
9-13 years	2,000 IU	2,000 IU	N/A	N/A
14-18 years	3,000 IU	2,310 IU	2,500 IU	4,000 IU
19+ years	3,000 IU	2,310 IU	2,565 IU	4,300 IU

Consumption of vitamin A above the RDA limit can cause nausea, abdominal pain, drowsiness, blurred vision, muscle pain and weakness. It can also have severe damage such as liver abnormalities, reduced bone density and central nervous system disorder. 

Vitamin B1

Vitamin B1 is popularly known as thiamine. It is responsible for the healthy functioning of different body parts. It is responsible for assisting in muscle function, improving the metabolism of carbohydrates, producing hydrochloric acid in the body and helping with nervous system functioning.

The deficiency of Vitamin B1 can lead to nerve damage, fatigue and even psychosis. If the deficiency becomes way too severe, it will lead to a disease called beriberi. The different sources of vitamin B1 include enriched rice, pork, beans and fortified cereal. 

It is advisable to follow the RDA of thiamin and consume accordingly. The RDA for thiamin is given in the table below:

Age	Males	Females	Pregnancy	Lactation
1-3 years	0.5 mg	0.5 mg
4-8 years	0.6 mg	0.6 mg
9-13 years	0.9 mg	0.9 mg
14-18 years	1.2 mg	1.0 mg
19+ years	1.2 mg	1.1 mg
All ages			1.4 mg	1.4 mg

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is extremely popular among the masses as it helps to treat colds. However, there are more functions of vitamin C. The consumption of vitamin C can help with the maintenance of growth and repair of tissues. It also helps to maintain the structural part of tendons, blood vessels and ligaments. 

Vitamin C is a very potent antioxidant that can be efficient for fighting against various damages of the body especially the ones due to radicals. The radicals will however be associated with different diseases, especially cancer. 

There are different sources from which you can obtain vitamin C. If you’re not having vitamin C from your food, you should consider maintaining the balance by including supplements in your diet. Foods rich in vitamin C such as oranges, kiwi, guava, red peppers and Brussel sprouts should be a part of your diet. 

Age	Males	Females	Pregnancy	Lactation
1-3 years	15 mg	15 mg	N/A	N/A
4-8 years	25 mg	25 mg	N/A	N/A
9-13 years	45 mg	45 mg	N/A	N/A
14-18 years	75 mg	65 mg	80 mg	115 mg
19 + years	90 mg	75 mg	85 mg	120 mg

Vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy. Although it’s a rare kind of disease, not maintaining the quantity in your diet can cause problems. You may feel weak, irritated or have bleeding gums. Furthermore, you are also likely to have a decreased ability to fight against infection. The excess consumption of vitamin C can however lead to upset stomach, diarrhoea and even kidney stones. 

Conclusion

Consuming simple and wholesome foods can help to overcome challenges. Furthermore, always make sure to eat properly cooked foods. Undercooked and prolonged cooking can destroy the original nutritional value of the food. Furthermore, you can also consume fermented or sprouted retained food to increase the nutritional value of food. Make sure to follow a healthy diet. 

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