Vitamin A: for eyes and skin
Vitamin A produces the pigments in our eye retina. In addition to the eyes, vitamin A is essential for the health of the skin. The recommended daily intake for adults is approx. 1.0 mg for men and 0.8 mg per day for women.1
What vitamin deficiency symptoms can occur with vitamin A?
Vitamin A deficiency is the main cause of avoidable blindness in children. A lack of vitamin A can cause the following symptoms:
- Xerophthalmie: dry, thickened conjunctiva and cornea
- Night -blindness
- Horny tumors (metaplasia) on the conjunctiva that lead to blurred vision 2
Natural sources of vitamin A
- Sweet potatoes (961 μg/ 100 g)
- Carrots (852 μg/ 100 g)
- Tuna (757 μg/ 100 g)
- Pumpkin (558 μg/ 100 g)
- Spinach (524 μg/ 100 g)
- Honeydew melon (169 μg/ 100 g)
Vitamin B1: Essential for carbohydrate metabolism
Vitamin B1 is particularly important for carbohydrate metabolism.3 It helps to break down and release energy from food. It is therefore indirectly extremely important for the general health of the skin, hair, muscles, brain and nerves.4 The need for vitamin B1 decreases slightly with age. The recommended daily intake of vitamin B1 for adults is between 1.1 and 1.3 mg/day.5
What vitamin B1 deficiency symptoms can occur?
As a result of one Vitamin B1 due to the lack of The Beriberi disease arises where alcoholics suffer particularly often. It leads to peripheral neuropathy. People with this disease have an impairment of sensory, motor and reflex functions. 6
Natural sources of vitamin B1
- Both fresh and dried fruits
- Linseed (1.6mg/100g)
- Salmon (0.3mg/100g)
- Peas (0.3mg/100g)
- Tofu (0.2mg/100g)
- Brown rice (0.2mg/100g)7
Vitamin B2: for skin, brain, hair, blood and nerves
Similar to B1, B2 is extremely important for the health of the skin, brain, hair, blood and nerves, as it also plays an important role in our body's energy metabolism. Men need about 1.3-1.4 mg, women about 1.0-1.1 mg, and pregnant women about 1.3-1.4 mg of vitamin B2 per day.8
What vitamin B2 deficiency symptoms can occur?
Vitamin B2 deficiency It only happens extremely rarely, but the consequences can be varied and serious. In addition to inadequate intake, endocrine anomalies (such as thyroid hormone deficiency) and various diseases of vitamin B2 are caused. 9 The signs and symptoms of a vitamin B2 In the lack of a lack of skin diseases, hyperemia and edema in the mouth and throat, torn corners of mouth, cheilosis (swollen, cracked lips), hair loss, sexual problems, sore throat, itchy and red eyes as well as liver and nerve damage. [ 10.11]
Natural sources of vitamin B2
- Almonds (1.1mg/100g)
- Salmon (0.5mg/100g)
- Mushrooms (0.5mg/100g)
- Spinach (0.5mg/100g)
- Eggs (0.5mg/100g)
Vitamin B3: for your immune system
Vitamin B3 is very important for the energy utilization of our food and for the health of our skin, blood cells and brain. It plays a central role in the function of the nerves and liver.12 In adults, the daily requirement of vitamin B3 decreases slightly with age. Men need approx. 14-16 mg per day, women approx. 11-13 mg per day and pregnant/breastfeeding women approx. 14-16 mg per day.13
What vitamin deficiency symptoms can occur?
More difficult Vitamin B3 deficiency leads to a disease called Pellagra. Pellagra causes a rash or a brown discoloration when skin is exposed to sunlight. The skin also develops a rough, sunburn -like appearance. 14 In addition, Pellagra can cause a strikingly red tongue and changes in the digestive tract that lead to vomiting, constipation or diarrhea. Pellagra's neurological complaints include depression, apathy, headache, fatigue, loss of memory, which can lead to aggressive behavior, and visual hallucinations. 15
Natural sources of vitamin B3
- Tuna (22.1mg/100g)
- Peanuts (14.4mg/100g)
- Chicken breast (9.5mg/100g)
- Portobello mushrooms (6.3mg/100g)
- Brown rice (2.6mg/100g)
Vitamin B5: for a stable hormone balance
Vitamin B5 is not only important for energy metabolism, like other B vitamins, but also helps in the production of neurotransmitters, steroid hormones, fatty acids and haemoglobin. Adolescents and adult men and women require 6 mg of vitamin B5 per day from the age of 14.16
What vitamin B5 deficiency symptoms can occur?
Since vitamin B5 is contained in almost all foods, a defect rarely occurs, except for people with severe malnutrition. 17 If someone at one Vitamin B5 deficiency suffers, he usually goes hand in hand with a lack of other nutrients, so it is difficult to identify specific effects for a vitamin B5 deficiency. Vitamin B5 deficiency occurs almost exclusively in people who consumed vitamin B5 metabolic antagonists. 18
Natural sources of vitamin B5
- Sunflower seeds (7 mg/ 100g)
- Shiitake mushrooms (3.6 mg/ 100g)
- Salmon (1.9 mg/ 100g)
- Avocados (1.4 mg/ 100g)
- Sweet potatoes (0.5 mg/ 100g)
Vitamin B6: for the production of red blood cells
Vitamin B6 helps to regulate homocysteine levels (blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine) and can reduce the risk of heart disease. It supports the conversion of tryptophan into niacin and serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a central role in sleep, appetite and mood. Vitamin B6 helps in the formation of red blood cells and influences cognitive abilities and immune function.19 Adult men have a daily requirement of 1.6 mg of vitamin B6 per day. Women 1.4 mg per day or 1.5-1.8 mg per day if pregnant or breastfeeding20
What vitamin B6 deficiency symptoms can occur?
An isolated lack of vitamin B6 is extremely rare and is usually associated with low concentrations of other vitamins of the B complex, such as vitamin B12. A Vitamin B6 deficiency causes biochemical changeswho are becoming more and more obvious with the progressive deficiency.
Vitamin B6 deficiency is associated with anemia, dermatitis with cheilosis (dandruff on the lips and cracks on the corners of the mouth) and glossitis (swollen tongue), depression and confusion as well as a weakened immune system. People with a slight deficiency cannot have deficiency symptoms or symptoms for months or even years. In infants, a vitamin B6 deficiency leads to irritability, abnormal hearing loss and cramp-like seizures. 21 Kidney diseases in the final stage, chronic renal insufficiency and other kidney diseases can also cause vitamin B6 deficiency. 22
Natural sources of vitamin B6
- Salmon (0.9 mg/100g)
- Tofu (0.5 mg/ 100g)
- Bananas (0.4 mg/ 100g)
- Potatoes (0.3 mg/ 100g)
- Sweet potatoes (0.2 mg/ 100g)
Vitamin B9: prevents heart disease
Vitamin B9, also known as folic acid, is essential for the production of red blood cells, can reduce homocysteine levels (blood levels of amino acid homocysteine) and thereby reduce the risk of heart disease. It helps to prevent the brain and spine's birth defects if it is taken early in pregnancy. Adult men and women need approx. 300 µg vitamin B9 per day. Still end approx. 450 µg and pregnant women approx. 550 µg per day. 23
What vitamin B9 deficiency symptoms can occur?
An isolated lack of vitamin B9 is unusual and usually exists in parallel with other nutrient deficits, since it is closely related to poor nutrition, alcoholism and malabsorptive disorders. The megaloblastic anemia, which is characterized by large, abnormal blood cells, is the primary clinical sign of a vitamin B9 deficiency. 25 To the Symptoms of folic acid deficiency count fatigue, feelings of weakness, difficulties of concentration, irritability, headache, palpitations and shortness of breath. 26 A vitamin B9 deficiency can cause pain on the tongue and oral mucosa, changes in skin, hair or fingernail pigmentation, and increased gay stone concentrations in the blood. 27
Natural sources of vitamin B9
- Soybeans (311 μg/ 100 g)
- Lentils (181 μg/ 100 g)
- Asparagus (149 μg/ 100 g)
- Spinach (146 μg/ 100 g)
- Broccoli (108 μg/ 100 g)
Vitamin B12: for DNA synthesis
Vitamin B12 supports the lowering of the homocysteine mirror (blood levels of amino acid homocysteine) and can therefore reduce risk of heart disease, as well as vitamin B9. It contributes to the formation of red blood cells and DNA. Vitamin B12 helps with the formation of new cells, with the breakdown of some fatty acids and promotes the growth of the nerve cells. 28 The daily requirement for vitamin B12 for adult men and women is around 4.0 µg per day. Pregnant women need approx. 4.5 µg and breastfeeding women approx. 5.5 µg 29
What happens with vitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency Is characterized by fatigue, general weakness, anemia, loss of appetite and weight loss. 30 Neurological problems, such as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, can occur. 31 Other symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency are depression, confusion, equilibrium, dementia, bad memory and pain in the mouth or on the tongue. The neurological symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency can also occur without anemia, which is why early diagnosis and intervention is important to avoid incurable damage. 32