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| Vitamin Deficiency Diseases |
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| Night blindness |
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| It is caused by the deficiency of vitamin A, affects the rod cells of the retina. This leads to poor adaptation of eyes to dim or night light causing night blindness. The cornea and the conjunctiva also become dry. This condition is called xerophthalmia (dry eyes). Severe deficiency results in keratomalacia in which ulcers develop on cornea, leading to blindness. |
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| Night blindness can be cured by making the diet rich in vitamin A. |
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| Beri-beri |
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| It is caused by the deficiency of vitamin B1 or thiamine. Thiamine is involved in the carbohydrate metabolism. The symptoms shown during beri-beri are swelling or oedema of the legs, extreme weakness, headache, dizziness, palpitations and loss of appetite. It is common among people whose chief diet is polished rice. Rice contains this vitamin in the outer husk. During cleaning and refining processes, this cover is removed. This results in removal of thiamine from rice. However, most other foods like groundnuts, pulses,fruits are sources of thiamine. |
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| Ariboflavinosis |
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| As the name indicates, this disease results due to lack of riboflavin or vitamin B2. Its symptoms are lesions at the corner of the mouth, inflammation of the tongue and mouth. |
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| Photophobia |
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| It is also caused due to the deficiency of vitamin B2 and results in the eye being sensitive to bright sunlight. |
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| Pellagra |
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| It is caused due to the deficiency of vitamin B4 or niacin. It is a disease characterised by the 3 D's symptoms - dermatitis (dry skin), diarrhoea (loose motions) and dementia (mental illness). It also leads to disorientation and hallucinations. It is common among people who live on a diet that mainly consists of maize. Maize interferes with the absorption of vitamin B4 which causes the deficiency symptoms. |
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| Scurvy |
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| It is a disease caused by the deficiency of vitamin C or ascorbic acid. The symptoms are bleeding gums, loosening of teeth, swollen and painful joints, bleeding in tissues and general fatigue (tiredness). Vitamin C is destroyed on heating. |
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| Rickets |
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| It is a disease caused by the deficiency of vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus. Calcium and phosphorus form the bones and teeth. However, absorption of these minerals can take place only in the presence of vitamin D. Vitamin D or calciferol is formed by the body in the presence of sunlight from 7-dehydrocholesterol, a compound that is present in the skin. Thus, chidren who have enough calcium and phosphorus but are not exposed to enough sunlight can also develop deficiency symptoms. Lack of vitamin D and these minerals results in rickets in children. |
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| The symptoms of rickets are soft bones which bend and become either knock knees or bow legs. If the chest bones are affected, it forms pigeon chest. It may also result in loss of teeth enamel and bending of spine. Rickets also results in growth retardation. Cod liver oil is the richest source of vitamin D. It can be given in addition to milk, liver and leafy vegetables to children to prevent or treat rickets. Exposure to sunlight also helps in making vitamin D. |
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| Osteomalacia |
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| It is the deficiency of vitamin D and the minerals, calcium and phosphorus in the adults. Osteomalacia means 'soft bones'. It occurs in women after pregnancy. During pregnancy and lactation, the infants draw all their calcium and phosphorus requirements from the mother. If the mother's diet does not include enough of these minerals, then the mother's bones are affected and become soft, deformed and painful. They also become more prone to fractures, especially pelvic bones, ribs and thigh bones. Diet rich in vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus can prevent osteomalacia. |
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| Bleeding disease |
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| It is caused by the deficiency of vitamin K. Vitamin K is necessary for clotting of blood. Thus in the absence of vitamin K there is delayed blood clotting that leads to profuse bleeding. |
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| Note: |
| It should be noted here that this is different from haemophilia, which also results in uncontrolled bleeding. However, it is a genetic disorder where the individual lacks a certain protein required in the process of blood clotting. |
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| Pernicious anaemia |
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| It is caused due to deficiency of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is necessary for the formation and maturation of the red blood cells. Since the red blood cells carry haemoglobin, which in turn carries oxygen, the deficiency in vitamin B12 causes anaemia called pernicious anaemia. It can be prevented and treated by eating a diet rich in vitamin B12 |
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