Nutritional deficiencies - What signs to look for if you think you may have them
[UPDATED MARCH 2023]
[FUTURE UPDATES MAY BE ADDED LATER IN 2023]
Introduction
This list has been compiled by Dr Patrick Kingsley - so thank you Patrick! See Dr Patrick Kingsley Profile
I have added in a few of my own.
Symptoms are actually better indicators of nutritional deficiency than signs - indeed a BMJ article pointed out that 84% of diagnoses are made on the history, 8% on signs and 8% on investigations. Anyhow, the following can be pointers to deficiencies, but they do not apply in all cases.
Everyone is deficient in some micronutrients these days - see Nutritional supplements - why we all need them
Symptoms ===> Nutritional Deficiencies
Hands
cold hands - magnesium deficiency, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue with low cardiac output
Nails
[So often people comment that nails get tough when they start taking Nutritional Supplements - what everybody should be taking all the time even if nothing is wrong. Many of the raw materials for nails are the same for bone and connective tissue - so nail health reflects bone and connective tissue health!]
white spots - mineral deficiency but often low zinc
ridges - zinc deficiency
soft or brittle nails - magnesium deficiency
bitten nails - general mineral deficiency
Skin
stretch marks - zinc deficiency
follicular hyperkeratosis - vitamin A deficiency
spontaneous bleeds - vitamins C or K or platelet deficiency. See Vitamin K
dry scaly skin with hair follicles plugged with coiled distorted hairs and a red halo - vitamin C deficiency
yellow palms - excessive beta carotene intake
pimply rough skin at the back of the upper arms "chicken skin" - essential fatty acid deficiency. See See VegEPA
Mouth
pale fissured tongue - iron deficiency
sore painful fissured tongue - vitamin B3 deficiency
sore burning tongue and lips and peeling of lips - vitamin B2 deficiency
swollen tongue with lateral teeth indentations - food intolerance
painful sore tongue with a smooth appearance - folic acid deficiency
cracked lips - vitamin B2 deficiency, thrush
Gums
pyorrhoea - Co-Q10 deficiency
bleeding gums - vitamin C deficiency
gum disease - Co-Q10, folica acid, vitamin C deficiency
Angular cheilosis (splits in lips) - vitamin B2 deficiency, thrush
Skin of Face
greasy red scaly skin of face and sides of nose - vitamin B2 deficiency
seborrhoeic dermatitis around nose and an acne like forehead rash - vitamin B6 deficiency
Neck
Goitre, thyroid swelling - iodine deficiency
Eyes
cataracts - chromium deficiency or excess free radicals - see Antioxidants
bags or dark rings under eyes - allergies or food intolerances
blue eyes and blond hair are often found in hyperactive male children - zinc magnesium, B6 and essential fatty acids deficiencies
blue eyes and premature grey hair - vitamin B12 deficiency - a feature of pernicious anaemia
Throat
thyroid swelling - iodine deficiency, hypothyroidism
Heart
any problem with the heart, including irregular beat, high blood pressure, cardiomegaly - magnesium and Co-Q10 deficiencies and sensitivity to caffeine. See Ischaemic Heart Disease - what really causes it
Legs
tender calf muscles - magnesium deficiency
brisk knee reflexes - magnesium deficiency
Restless legs - mineral deficiency, tendency to be acidic - see Acid-Alkali balance
Clinical Histories ===> Nutritional Deficiencies / Other Causes
Nasal polyps
salicylate sensitivity
Catarrh, sinusitis
history of removal of tonsils or adenoids
See The catarrhal child - a cause of recurrent colds, ear infections, tonsillitis etc
Poor healing
zinc deficiency
Can't remember dreams
vitamin B6 deficiency
Sugar craving, blood sugar swings, low blood sugar
chromium deficiency, carbohydrate intolerance and gut fermentation syndrome
Pre-menstrual syndrome
magnesium, zinc and essential fatty acid deficiencies
See Pre-menstrual tension (PMT)
Glandular fever
inadequate liver detoxification mechanisms
Sensory symptoms
B12, B1, magnesium deficiencies
Mental symptoms
any B vitamin deficiency! Allergies, toxic stress.
Cervical dysplasia
vitamin B6 and folic acid deficiency
Arthritis
Boron and sulphur (MSM) deficiency
See Arthritis - Nutritional treatments
Measles
vitamin A deficiency
Persistent diarrhoea leading to fatigue
magnesium and potassium deficiencies
[Many diuretics cause magnesium and potassium deficiencies]
Muscle cramps
magnesium deficiency
Shaking hands
magnesium and vitamin B1 deficiencies
Hypertension
magnesium deficiency
See High blood pressure - causes of
Dysphagia
magnesium deficiency
Sensitivity to light
magnesium deficiency
Osteoporosis
don't forget to think about magnesium
See Osteoporosis - practical nutritional considerations
High blood pressure in pregnancy
magnesium deficiency
Hair loss
thyroid, iron stores (must measure serum ferritin), biotin, zinc and essential fatty acid deficiencies
See Hair loss
Frequent colds
zinc and vitamin C deficiencies
Infertility, miscarriages and premature labour
zinc deficiency
See Infertility - a common problem usually badly treated
Poor sense of smell and taste
zinc deficiency
Poor vision or night blindness
zinc and vitamin A deficiencies
Dry eyes
vitamin A deficiency
Blocked nose with red wine
molybdenum deficiency
Any cancer or family history of cancer
selenium deficiency
See Cancer - the principles of prevention and treatment
Mercury amalgams in teeth
selenium and glutathione deficiencies
See Mercury - Toxicity of Dental Amalgam - Why you should have your dental amalgams removed
Cardiomyopathies
selenium deficiency
(This is Keshan Disease - see Wikipedia Entry for Keshan Disease)
Heart attacks
vitamin E deficiency
See Vitamin E, heart attacks and the Shute brothers
Hair loss, dandruff, eczema
Also excessive ear wax production, poor wound healing, excessive thirst (especially in hyperactive children), pre-menstrual symptoms of any sort.
essential fatty acid deficiency
Carpal tunnel syndrome
vitamin B6 deficiency
See Carpel tunnel syndrome - a cause of pain and tingling in the hands
Gastrectomy
vitamin B12 and hydrochloric acid deficiencies
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
vitamin B12 deficiency
See Diabetes - how to prevent the complications
Being Elderly
low everything, especially vitamin Bs and HCI deficiencies
Persistent infections
vitamin C and zinc deficiencies
Being Vegan
vitamin B12, zinc and Fe deficiencies
Taking the contraceptive pill and HRT
can cause an increase in copper levels and zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6 deficiencies
See The serious complications of taking the Pill and HRT
Parkinsonism/Multiple sclerosis
glutathione deficiency
Important Vitamin and Mineral Pages
Please do read these pages as well -
- B12 - rationale for using vitamin B12 in CFS
- Vitamin C - learn to use this vital tool well – the key is getting the dose right
- Vitamin D - most of us do not get enough
- Vitamin D and Sunshine: an essential vitamin! Protects against cancer, heart and bone disease
- Magnesium - treating a deficiency
My Groundhog Regimes
I have developed general strategies for good health, and for dealing with both acute and chronic infections and much of this involves good nutritional status. Please see:
- Groundhog BASIC – what we should all be doing all the time
- Groundhog ACUTE - put in place at the first sign of any infection
- Groundhog CHRONIC – the starting point to treat any chronic infection AND to live to our full potential
Related Articles
- Vitamin K
- VegEPA
- Acid-Alkali balance
- Nutritional Supplements - what everybody should be taking all the time even if nothing is wrong
- Nutritional supplements - why we all need them
- Antioxidants
- Ischaemic Heart Disease - what really causes it
- The catarrhal child - a cause of recurrent colds, ear infections, tonsillitis etc
- Pre-menstrual tension (PMT)
- Arthritis - Nutritional treatments
- High blood pressure - causes of
- Osteoporosis - practical nutritional considerations
- Hair loss
- Infertility - a common problem usually badly treated
- Mercury - Toxicity of Dental Amalgam - Why you should have your dental amalgams removed
- Diabetes - how to prevent the complications
- The serious complications of taking the Pill and HRT
- Treatment of Degenerative Neurological Conditions such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), Alzheimer's, Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob's
External Links
- Dr Patrick Kingsley Profile
- Wikipedia Entry for Keshan Disease
- Vitamin E, heart attacks and the Shute brothers
References
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