Chapter: 11th 12th std standard Home Science Maintain Basic Knowledge for family life Higher secondary school College

Deficiency of Vitamins

Night Blindness: In the early stages of vitamin A deficiency, the individual cannot see well in dim light. In advanced deficiency, the subject cannot see objects in dim light.

DEFICIENCY OF VITAMINS

1. Vitamin A: (Retinol)

The important deficiency states due to lack of vitamin A in the diet are:

1. Night Blindness: In the early stages of vitamin A deficiency, the individual cannot see well in dim light. In advanced deficiency, the subject cannot see objects in dim light.

2. Xerosis Conjunctiva: The conjunctiva is dry, thickened, wrinkled and pigmented. The pigmentation gives conjunctiva a smoky appearance.

3. Xerosis Cornea: When dryness spreads to cornea, it takes on a hazy, lusterless appearance.

4. Bitot's Spots: Greyish glistening white plaques, formed of desquamated thickened conjuctival epithelium, usually triangular in shape and firmly adhering to the conjuctiva.

5. Keratomalacia : When xerosis of the conjuctiva and cornea is not treated, it may develop into a condition known as keratomalacia.

6. Follicullar Hyperkeratosis: The skin becomes rough and dry.

Under the national prophylaxis programme against nutritional blindness 2,00,000 IU of vitamin A in oil is administered every six months to preschool children to eliminate vitamin A deficiency.

2. Vitamin D (7 - dehydro cholestrol)

i. Rickets

The chief signs in fully developed active rickets are found in the chest wall (beading), waists and ankles (thickening) and various deformities (knock - knees and bow legs). The child is restless, fretful and pale with flabby and toneless muscles, which allow the limbs to assume unnatural postures. Development is delayed so that the teeth often erupt late and there is failure to sit up, stand, crawl and walk at the normal ages. There is usually a protuberant abdomen so called potbelly.

ii. Osteomalacia

It may be called as adult rickets. It occurs generally in pregnant women. The changes in bone are similar to rickets. Skeletal pain is usually present and persistent and ranges from a dull ache to severe pain. Muscular weakness is often present and the patient may find difficulty in climbing stairs or getting out of a chair.

3. Vitamin E (Tocopherol)

Vitamin E deficiency in animals causes several disorders such as reproduction failure, liver necrosis, etc,

4. Vitamin K

Vitamin K deficiency leads to haemorrhagic conditions.

5. Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

Severe Vitamin C deficiency results in the development of the disease scurvy. The disease is characterized by

General weakness followed by shortness of breath, pain in bones, joints and muscles of the extremities.

Swollen and tender joints, haemorrhages in various tissues and pain in joints.

Bleeding gums and loose teeth.

In infantile scurvy, the infant screams if picked up or moved or handled. There is pain and tenderness of the limbs.

6. Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine)

Thiamine deficiency causes the disease, beriberi, in human beings. Two forms of beriberi namely wet beriberi and dry beriberi occurs in adults. The first symptoms are anorexia (loss of appetite) with heaviness and weakness of the legs. There is pain and numbness in the legs. The subjects feel weak and get easily exhausted. Oedema is the important feature of wet beriberi. The calf muscles are swollen. The pulse is fast and bouncing. The heart becomes weak and death occurs due to heart failure. In infantile beriberi, the first symptoms are restlessness, sleeplessness and cardiac failure.

7. Vitamin B₂ or Riboflavin

Riboflavin deficiency is characterized by

a)Angular stomatitis:

The lesions at the angles of the mouth are termed as angular stomatitis.

b) Glossitis

The tongue in general is acutely inflamed called as glossitis.

c) Skin lesions occur on the nasolabial folds and on the ears as shown in the picture below.

Cheilosis which is the dry chapped appearance of the lips.

Behavioural abnormalities occur in riboflavin deficient children.

8. Vitamin B₃ (Niacin)

Niacin deficiency causes the disease pellagra in humans. Pellagra is also called Disease of 3D's. Because the disease has the symptoms of diarrhoea, dermatitis and depression. The disease is characterized by the following.

Glossitis and diarrhoea - These are the two outstanding symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are seen in most cases.

The dermatitis is the most characteristic symptom of the disease. The commonest sites are the back of the fingers and hands, the forearms, and the neck. The following pictures show dermatitis on hands and neck.

c) Milder mental disturbances consisting of irritability, depression, inability to concentrate and poor memory are common in niacin deficiency.

9. Vitamin B₆ or Pyridoxine

Pyridoxine deficiency results in the following

Hypochromic microcytic anaemia.

Sleep disturbances, irritability and depression

Angular stomatitis, glossitis and cheilosis in pregnant and lactating mothers.

10. Pantothenic Acid

The visible signs of deficiency include nausea, vomiting, tremor of the outstretched hands, irritability and burning feet syndrome.

11. Folic Acid

Folic acid deficiency causes megaloblastic anaemia mainly in pregnant women of low income groups.

12. Vitamin B₁₂

Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency causes perinicious anemia in humans. Soreness and inflammation of the tongue are commonly observed. Parasthesia (numbness and tingling) occurs in fingers and toes. Persons living exclusively on vegetarian diets develop vitamin B₁₂ deficiency.

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11th 12th std standard Home Science Maintain Basic Knowledge for family life Higher secondary school College : Deficiency of Vitamins |