Vitamin deficiency

Vitamin deficiency
Other namesAvitaminosis, hypovitaminosis
SpecialtyEndocrinology

Vitamin deficiency is the condition of a long-term lack of a vitamin. When caused by not enough vitamin intake it is classified as a primary deficiency, whereas when due to an underlying disorder such as malabsorption it is called a secondary deficiency. An underlying disorder can have 2 main causes:

Conversely, hypervitaminosis refers to symptoms caused by vitamin intakes in excess of needs, especially for fat-soluble vitamins that can accumulate in body tissues.[3][5][11]

The history of the discovery of vitamin deficiencies progressed over centuries from observations that certain conditions – for example, scurvy – could be prevented or treated with certain foods having high content of a necessary vitamin, to the identification and description of specific molecules essential for life and health. During the 20th century, several scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine or the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their roles in the discovery of vitamins.[12][13][14]

  1. ^ Komrower, G. M.; Wilson, Vera; Clamp, J. R.; Westall, R. G. (June 1964). "Hydroxykynureninuria". Archives of Disease in Childhood. 39 (205): 250–256. doi:10.1136/adc.39.205.250. ISSN 0003-9888. PMC 2019216. PMID 14169454.
  2. ^ Lee Russell McDowell (2000). Vitamins in Animal and Human Nutrition (2 ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-8138-2630-1.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference DRITable was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference DRI-History was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference JapanDRI was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Copenhagen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference WHO-FAO was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference WhyFortify was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Map was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference EFSA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Carpenter was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference Karrer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kuhn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).