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More Hidden Clues to Diagnosing Nutritional Deficiencies

by — Last updated: 2015-11-06 in Nutrition & Dieting

Table of Contents

Many diseases are caused by nutritional deficiencies. Specific nutritional needs cause easily recognized symptoms that can alert you to the need for supplements or changes in your diet.
Dry eyes are a possible symptom of vitamin A deficiency. Not getting enough of the vitamin can also cause breakouts of the skin on the face and neck, poor night vision, blind spots, thickening of the skin around pores causing blackheads, and tooth decay. Sometimes the underlying problem is too little fat in the diet. Vitamin A is not soluble in water. It can only be absorbed when it is mixed with fat. As little as 5 grams, the equivalent of a mere teaspoon of olive oil in salad dressing, is enough fat for the body to be able to absorb vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K, as well as beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, astaxanthin, and zeaxanthin. Without at least a tiny amount of fat consumed at about the same time as these important vitamins and phytonutrients, the digestive tract cannot absorb these important nutrients.
 

Sometimes infants develop a distressing condition called acrodermatitis enteropathica, which causes bright red itchy rashes around all of the body orifices and hair loss. This condition is caused by a deficiency of zinc, which is in turn due to a genetic condition that makes it difficult for the body to absorb zinc from food. The problem is usually treated with zinc supplements.

Taking too much zinc, however, can lead to a deficiency of copper. The problem arises from the body's use of the same transporter proteins for both copper and zinc. When someone takes a very high dose of zinc (over 75 mg a day for over two weeks), the body is unable to absorb adequate copper. 

In very, very rare cases, copper deficiency can be caused by a genetic condition known as kinky hair disease. Boy babies (but not girls, who can be carriers) can develop fatal copper deficiency due to an inherent ability of the body to absorb the nutrient. Copper deficiency is also sometimes a side effect of batriatric (gastric bypass) surgery.

Deficiencies of copper can cause some severe symptoms. There can be severe muscle weakness. There can be lost of sensation due to peripheral neuropathy. Unlike diabetic neuropathy, this kind of neuropathy causes loss of sensation in the sex organs and above the waist. Loss of sensation increases the risk of falling and accidents. There can be slow loss of peripheral vision, and a slow loss of the ability to distinguish colors.

Treating copper deficiency is not usually difficult. First of all, it's absolutely essential to stop any overdose of zinc. No more than 15 mg of zinc is permissible. Then it is necessary to take a copper supplement in a dosage of 1 to 3 mg a day for several months.

READ Pros and Cons of the Vegan Nutritional Style

Sometimes it's not a good idea to take nutritional supplements. Overdoses of selenium can cause hair loss and brittle nails, but usually because the wrong kind of selenium is included in the supplement. Inorganic selenium (selenate and selenite), the kind of selenium found in rocks, tend to be more toxic than organic selenium (selenomethionine and selenocysteine), the kind of selenium found in food. If you take selenate or selenite, be especially careful not to take too much.

  • Brooks M. Iron Deficiency Linked to Psychiatric Disorders in Kids. Medscape Medical News. Available at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/806778. Accessed 4 October 2015.
  • de Romana DL, Olivares M, Uauy R, Araya M. Risks and benefits of copper in light of new insights of copper homeostasis. J Trace Elem Med Biol. January 2011. 25:3-13.
  • Photo courtesy of The Noun Project: www.flickr.com/photos/thenounproject/6026641793/
  • Photo courtesy of USDAgov: www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/6276690879

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