Related articles: Hypovitaminosis
Definition
Condition of partial lack of vitamins, due to reduced dietary intake or reduced absorption. Severe hypovitaminoses are very rare in industrialized countries like ours, although modest deficiency factors seem to be quite common. This is especially true in the elderly and on the occasion of particular morbid events (infectious diseases, malabsorption or following antibiotic therapy). Many nutritionists claim that a large section of the population is in conditions of hypovitaminosis. The reasons are different: on the one hand the ever lower intake of fresh plant foods (cooking and boiling reduce the enzymatic heritage) and on the other the depletion of the vitamin content of foods (due to intensive farming techniques and long times) of conservation). To cope with hypovitaminosis and improve physical efficiency, we recommend the daily intake of a multivitamin - multimineral low-dose supplement (such as Multicentrum). On the other hand, we must not forget the danger of hypervitaminosis due to wrong beliefs about the protective action of some vitamins, which are often taken at dosages clearly higher than those recommended.
Cracking of the corners of the mouth is a frequent symptom of hypovitaminosis linked to vitamin B2 deficiency
Possible Causes * of Hypovitaminosis
- Alcoholism
- Celiac disease
- Alcoholic ketoacidosis
- Sclerosing cholangitis
- Wernicke's encephalopathy
- Giardiasis
- Crohn's disease
- Korsakoff psychosis
- Tropical sprue
