Iron: The Essential Mineral for Health and Vitality

Iron is an indispensable mineral, crucial for forming red blood cells and delivering oxygen to tissues. This essential nutrient fuels bodily functions, promoting energy production and endurance. Iron’s pivotal role stems from its connection with hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to every cell, enabling vital metabolic processes and energy production. Beyond hemoglobin, iron supports key enzyme systems involved in energy metabolism.

Iron is particularly significant for women, especially those who are menstruating, pregnant, or lactating, as their bodies often experience increased iron demand. Without adequate iron, these groups face heightened risks of anemia, which can lead to fatigue, decreased immunity, and complications during pregnancy. Similarly, iron is vital for children and teenagers, supporting their growth, cognitive development, and overall physical well-being.

A balanced diet can provide sufficient iron. Rich sources include animal-based foods like red meat and egg yolks, which contain heme iron—a form easily absorbed by the body. Plant-based foods such as spinach, mushrooms, and watermelon offer non-heme iron, which is absorbed more slowly. Additionally, foods like parsley root, nettles, dried fruits (e.g., apricots and figs), whole grains, potatoes, nuts, and almonds contain significant amounts of non-heme iron, making them excellent choices for those following plant-based diets.

Iron deficiency remains a widespread nutritional concern, particularly in developing regions. Symptoms include chronic fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath, and susceptibility to infections. In severe cases, iron deficiency can lead to anemia, characterized by pale skin, heart palpitations, and extreme physical weakness. For menstruating women, iron deficiency may exacerbate menstrual pain and disorders, while in children, it can hinder learning and growth.

To prevent deficiency, healthcare professionals often recommend iron supplements or fortified foods, especially for high-risk groups. Combining iron-rich foods with vitamin C sources—like citrus fruits or bell peppers—can enhance iron absorption, promoting optimal health and vitality.
Iron: The Essential Mineral for Health and Vitality

Magnesium: Essential Benefits, Sources, and Deficiency Prevention

Magnesium is an essential mineral found abundantly in whole grains like corn, wheat, oats, barley, and rye, as well as in nuts, peanuts, figs, almonds, apples, leafy green vegetables, milk, eggs, and even chocolate. These food sources provide a natural means of ensuring the body receives adequate magnesium, which is critical for many physiological processes.

Magnesium supplements are known to have numerous health benefits, especially for heart health. They help regulate heart rhythms and may reduce high cholesterol levels, which can contribute to cardiovascular issues. Magnesium also strengthens bones by aiding in the formation of bone tissue and promoting calcium absorption, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

For pregnant women, magnesium intake is especially important, as it supports fetal development and helps reduce the risk of complications like pre-eclampsia, a condition marked by high blood pressure. Magnesium is also recommended for people at risk of arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties, which can alleviate joint pain and stiffness.

In addition to its direct health benefits, magnesium enhances the body’s ability to absorb other vital minerals, particularly calcium and potassium. This symbiotic relationship helps maintain bone density and electrolyte balance, which are essential for muscle function and hydration.

A magnesium deficiency can lead to a range of health issues, including heightened allergy sensitivity, low immunity, and fragile nails, hair, and teeth. Symptoms can escalate to migraines, loss of appetite, high blood pressure, fatigue, nausea, and even emotional disturbances. This deficiency is particularly concerning given magnesium’s role in cellular and neurological function.

Magnesium is best absorbed when paired with vitamin B6, which is why breakfast cereals—rich in both magnesium and B vitamins—are often recommended as a good dietary choice. However, magnesium absorption can be hindered by high meat intake and excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol, in particular, depletes magnesium stores in the body, which is why many alcohol rehabilitation programs include magnesium supplements to aid recovery.

In conclusion, magnesium is a critical mineral with widespread benefits for heart, bone, and cellular health. Incorporating magnesium-rich foods or supplements into one’s diet, especially alongside vitamin B6, is essential for maintaining optimal health and preventing deficiencies that could lead to more serious health complications.
Magnesium: Essential Benefits, Sources, and Deficiency Prevention

Essential Roles of Calcium in Human Health

Calcium is a vital mineral in the human body, with an adult typically harboring around 1.5 kilograms. This mineral plays a critical role in maintaining overall health, primarily through its contributions to bone and teeth mineralization, cardiovascular function, blood coagulation, and acid-base balance regulation.

One of calcium’s most crucial roles is in the development and maintenance of strong bones and teeth. Approximately 99% of the body’s calcium is stored in bones and teeth, where it provides structural support and strength. Beyond its skeletal benefits, calcium is essential for maintaining a regular heartbeat. It facilitates the electrical signaling within heart muscle cells, ensuring a stable cardiac rhythm. Moreover, calcium is involved in the blood clotting process, which is vital for wound healing. It also helps maintain the body’s acid-base balance, a key aspect of metabolic homeostasis.

Adequate calcium intake is especially beneficial for individuals with conditions such as osteoporosis, convulsions, concentration disorders, and allergies. For instance, calcium supplementation can help manage osteoporosis by slowing bone density loss. Conversely, calcium deficiency can have severe consequences. It can lead to osteoporosis, dental cavities, anemia, and a range of emotional and physical dysfunctions, including irregular menstrual cycles, erectile dysfunction, depression, and sleep disorders like insomnia. In the context of modern health concerns, ensuring sufficient calcium intake through diet or supplementation remains essential for long-term well-being.
Essential Roles of Calcium in Human Health

Factors Compromising Vitamin K Absorption and Health Implications

Vitamin K plays a critical role in blood clotting and bone health. However, its absorption and effectiveness can be compromised by various factors. High amounts of vitamins A and E can block the absorption of vitamin K. This interference can lead to a deficiency, disrupting the essential processes dependent on vitamin K.

The bacteria that synthesize vitamin K thrive in an acidic digestive environment. Antacids, if taken in sufficient quantities, can neutralize stomach acid, leading to vitamin K deficiency. This is because hydrochloric acid is essential for digesting food and creating the environment beneficial for these bacteria. Antacid overuse may also result in irritable bowel syndrome and other nutritional deficiencies, further complicating an individual's health.

Hydrochloric acid's importance extends beyond digestion. It maintains the acidic environment necessary for the beneficial bacteria that produce vitamin K. Without sufficient stomach acid, these bacteria cannot thrive, leading to reduced vitamin K synthesis and potential deficiencies.

Research has highlighted a correlation between vitamin K deficiencies and alcoholism. A study found that vitamin K deficiencies were common in male alcoholics, who often suffer from poor nutritional status. This deficiency may also be linked to fetal alcohol syndrome, as children born with this condition often exhibit birth defects associated with vitamin K deficiency.

Moreover, certain food preservatives can affect vitamin K levels. In rats, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a common preservative, was shown to induce vitamin K deficiencies. BHT is widely used in the food industry, especially in cereals, to extend shelf life. This widespread use raises concerns about its potential impact on human health, given its ability to interfere with vitamin K.

In conclusion, maintaining adequate vitamin K levels is crucial for health. Understanding the factors that interfere with its absorption and synthesis, such as high doses of vitamins A and E, antacids, alcoholism, and certain preservatives, can help in mitigating the risks of deficiency and ensuring overall well-being.
Factors Compromising Vitamin K Absorption and Health Implications

The Link Between Candida Infections and Vitamin K Deficiencies

Candida infections, caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans or other yeast species, have been linked to vitamin K deficiencies. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and bone health, and it is synthesized by beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. However, an overgrowth of Candida can disrupt this balance, crowding out these helpful bacteria and leading to reduced vitamin K production.

Individuals consuming high amounts of sugary and alkaline foods or those frequently using antibiotics are at increased risk for Candida infections. Sugary foods provide an ideal environment for yeast to thrive, while antibiotics can destroy both harmful and beneficial bacteria, further exacerbating yeast overgrowth.

Malabsorption syndromes, such as celiac disease and Crohn's disease, can also lead to vitamin K deficiencies. Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten, damages the small intestine's lining, impairing nutrient absorption, including vitamin K. Similarly, Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the digestive tract, which can hinder the absorption of vital nutrients, including vitamin K.

The interaction between vitamin K and anticoagulants like Warfarin is another critical consideration. Warfarin inhibits the action of vitamin K to prevent blood clotting, which is why patients on such medications need to monitor their vitamin K intake carefully. Excessive vitamin K can counteract the medication's effectiveness, posing a risk for clot formation.

Maintaining a balanced diet and being aware of factors that influence vitamin K levels are crucial for individuals at risk of Candida infections and those on anticoagulant therapy. Monitoring and managing these factors can help prevent vitamin K deficiencies and support overall health.
The Link Between Candida Infections and Vitamin K Deficiencies

Understanding Vitamin K Deficiencies: Causes and Solutions

Vitamin K deficiencies can have profound effects on health, impacting blood clotting and overall well-being. To address this issue effectively, it's crucial to understand the diverse causes and potential remedies associated with this condition.

Firstly, replenishing beneficial bacteria post-antibiotic treatment is standard in Europe but less common in the United States. Probiotic supplements containing acidophilus have demonstrated efficacy in restoring healthy gut flora and subsequently enhancing vitamin K levels, crucial for managing bleeding issues post-antibiotics.

Candida infections, particularly systemic yeast overgrowth, are linked to vitamin K deficiencies. Candida albicans and other yeasts can outcompete essential gut bacteria responsible for synthesizing vitamin K. Individuals with high sugar diets, an excess of alkaline foods, or a history of antibiotic use are at heightened risk of candida overgrowth.

Malabsorption syndromes like celiac disease and Crohn's disease can impede nutrient absorption, leading to vitamin K deficiencies. Celiac disease, in particular, often results in poor vitamin K absorption due to gluten intolerance.

Anticoagulants such as Warfarin block vitamin K's action, necessitating dietary adjustments. Conversely, excessive vitamin A and E intake can also interfere with vitamin K metabolism, potentially exacerbating bleeding tendencies.

Moreover, antacid use can disrupt the acidic environment necessary for vitamin K-synthesizing bacteria. This disruption, along with possible nutritional deficiencies, underscores the need for balanced digestive health.

Notably, vitamin K deficiencies are prevalent among male alcoholics, mirroring fetal alcohol syndrome's birth defects linked to similar deficiencies. Studies highlight the complex interplay between alcohol consumption and nutrient metabolism.

In animal studies, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a common food preservative found in cereals, induces vitamin K deficiencies. Such findings emphasize the broader impact of food additives on nutritional health.

In conclusion, addressing vitamin K deficiencies requires a multifaceted approach encompassing dietary modifications, probiotic supplementation, and awareness of potential disruptors like anticoagulants and food additives. By integrating these insights into medical practice, clinicians can better diagnose and manage vitamin K-related conditions, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes and promoting holistic wellness.
Understanding Vitamin K Deficiencies: Causes and Solutions

Vitamin K: Essential Nutrient and Deficiency Factors

Human intake of vitamin K is crucial for various bodily functions, sourced primarily from diets and intestinal bacterial synthesis. Vitamin K deficiencies stem from several factors:

Insufficient Dietary Intake: One primary cause of vitamin K deficiency is inadequate consumption through diet. Leafy green vegetables like lettuce, kale, broccoli, and collard greens are rich sources of dietary vitamin K. However, these foods are often not consumed frequently enough, leading to potential deficiencies.

Impact of Salicylates: High intake of salicylates, present in nuts, fruits, spices, and mints, can interfere with vitamin K absorption. Aspirin, a notable salicylate, can "thin" the blood by inhibiting coagulation, resulting in gastrointestinal bleeding with excessive use. This highlights the importance of balancing salicylate intake to avoid vitamin K depletion and associated health risks.

Role of Antibiotics: Antibiotics play a significant role in causing bleeding issues due to vitamin K deficiencies. While these medications eliminate harmful bacteria from the digestive tract, they also disrupt beneficial intestinal bacteria responsible for synthesizing vitamin K. To replenish these vital bacteria post-antibiotic treatment, probiotic supplements containing acidophilus are recommended. Opting for refrigerated supplements enhances the longevity of the bacterial cultures, ensuring sustained vitamin K production in the gut.
Vitamin K: Essential Nutrient and Deficiency Factors

Calcium absorption

A constant supply of calcium is necessary throughout our lifetime, but is especially important during phases of growth, pregnancy, and lactation (breast feeding). Ninety-nine percent of body calcium is stored in bone in the form of hydroxyapatite crystal [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2], while the remaining 1% is distributed in the plasma, interstitium, intracellular fluid, and within the cells in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum.

The intestinal calcium absorption is a crucial physiological process to maintain bone mineralization and calcium homeostasis. It occurs through transcellular and paracellular pathways: a transcellular active transport process, located largely in the duodenum and upper jejunum; and a paracellular, passive process that functions throughout the length of the intestine. Both pathways are regulated by hormones, nutrients and other factors.

The small intestine represents the major site of active calcium absorption in most species; it is responsible for approximately 90% of the total calcium absorption, whereas the rate of absorption in the colon appears to be less than 10%.

Dietary calcium is absorbed in the small intestine with the help of vitamin D. The level of calcium absorption from dietary sources drops to 7 in post-menopausal women. The body will absorb more calcium if there is a deficiency.

The largest quantity, 65% of the absorbed calcium occurs primarily by passive transport in the ileum. In the jejunum the intestinal calcium absorption is about 17%, and in duodenum 8%. In the duodenum and jejunum there is active calcium transport in addition to passive transport.

Factors that improve calcium absorption include adequate amounts of protein, magnesium, phosphorous, and vitamin D.

Conditions that reduce calcium absorption include high or excessive intakes of oxalates and phytates, found in foods such as spinach and unleavened whole wheat products.

Calcium deficiency can increase risk of bone disorders such as osteoporosis. It is well known that calcium is involved in the nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, blood coagulation, secretory activity, cell death, cell differentiation, immune response and enzyme activation. The dysregulation of calcium homeostasis is associated with bone disorders, metabolic diseases, and increment in the risk of epithelial cancers.
Calcium absorption

Malabsorption syndromes can cause vitamin K deficiencies

Vitamin E deficiency is rare. In the United States, deficiency is limited primarily to people with an inborn deficiency of alpha-TTP and to those who have fat malabsorption syndromes, and hence cannot absorb fat-soluble vitamins.

Malabsorption syndromes that prevent the proper absorption of nutrients can cause vitamin K deficiencies. Malabsorption is the inability to absorb dietary food. Mucosal barrier to absorption: disease of small intestine. Malabsorption constitutes the pathological interference with the normal physiological sequence of digestion (intraluminal process), absorption (mucosal process) and transport (postmucosal events) of nutrients.

Vitamin K deficiency is seen in patients with malabsorption syndromes such as pancreatitis, short bowel syndrome, sprue, or small bowel states of bacterial overgrowth such as sometimes accompany use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. It also can be seen in patients with extremely poor dietary intake of green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin K is fat-soluble and therefore requires bile salts for absorption from the jejunum. Biliary obstruction, malabsorption syndromes, gastrointestinal obstruction, or rapid gastrointestinal transit can result in vitamin K deficiency because of inadequate absorption.
Malabsorption syndromes can cause vitamin K deficiencies

Candida albicans and vitamin K deficiency

Vitamin K deficiency decreases levels of prothrombin and other vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors causing effective coagulation and potential bleeding.

Candida (systemic yeast) infections have been linked to vitamin K deficiencies. An overgrowth of candida albicans or other kinds of yeast can crowd out the helpful bacteria/natural flora in the digestive tract that make vitamin K.

Candida albicans normally cannot grow inside the intestine with well-established natural flora because they cannot compete with the resident bacteria.

It colonizes in the intestine as a result o other infection, antibiotic use, or intestine-damaging food sensitivity reaction. An antibacterial drug may destroy the normal bacterial flora without affecting the fungal organism. As a result, Candida albicans can proliferate and cause infection. Much of the normal flora can cause disease under certain conditions especially in elderly, debilitated or immune-suppressed.

People who eat a lot of sugary foods, an unusually high proportion of alkaline foods and/or take antibiotics tend to be at high risk for Candida infections.
Candida albicans and vitamin K deficiency

The effects of selenium deficiency on human health

Selenium is a naturally occurring metalloid element, which is essential to human and other animal health in trace amounts.

Selenium deficiency produces changes in several metabolic functions, including the immune system. Selenium is an essential mineral for the efficient operation of many aspect of the immune system.

In the mouse and squirrel monkey, selenium deficiency is associated with loss of hair, emaciation, and severe lesions in liver and muscles. Both chronic and acute forms of myopathy have been reported in horses. 

Selenium deficiency has been associated with HIV disease progression and mortality. In Africa, lower levels of selenium in pregnant women has been found to be predictive of higher risk of intrapartum transmission and fetal and child death.

Recent research has shown that selenium deficiency has adversely affects thyroid hormone metabolism, which is detrimental to growth and development.

In 1979, Chinese scientists first described the relations ship of selenium to Keshan disease. Keshan disease is related to a low dietary selenium intake and low blood and hair selenium levels.

Selenium deficiency has also implicated in the incidence of bone and joint condition (Kashin-Beck disease) in humans in various part of China. Necrotic degeneration of the chondrocytes is the most storing pathologic feature of this disease.
The effects of selenium deficiency on human health

Salicylates and vitamin K deficiency

A diet with high intakes of salicylates can reduce vitamin K epoxide reductase, resulting in vitamin K deficiency. It will impact magnesium levels, which increased adrenaline flow. The increased adrenalin flow then results in a variety of hyper excitability disorders including ADHD or Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Oregano

Herbs and spices are particularly high in salicylates. Among the herbs, the highest levels are found in dill, mace, oregano, rosemary, tarragon and thyme, while among the spices most salicylate is to be found in aniseed, cumin, curry powder, paprika, and turmeric.

Salicylates are also present in flavorings, perfumes, scented toiletries, eucalyptus and some medication (such as aspirin).

Aspirin is a salicylate. Blocking vitamin K is why aspirin can "thin" the blood - it basically keeps blood from coagulating. This is why too much aspirin can cause stomach and intestinal bleeding. Antibiotics can cause bleeding problems from vitamin K deficiencies.
Salicylates and vitamin K deficiency

Common causes of vitamin k deficiency in human

A deficiency of vitamin K is unlikely in healthy adults. The populations groups that appear to be most at risk for a vitamin K deficiency are newborn infants, people being treated chronically with antibiotics, people with severe gastrointestinal malabsorption disorders, and the elderly.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, biliary stasis, sliver diseases, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and Ascaris infection can interfere with enteric absorption of vitamin K.

The synthesis of vitamin K by the intestinal flora meets the requirements of this vitamin. But sterilization of the large intestine by the prolonged use of sulfonamides and antibiotics or diarrheal diseases like sprue, ulcerative colitis and conditions with reduce fat absorption may lead to vitamin K deficiency.

Vitamin K deficiency also occurs in patients with malabsorption and sometimes following prolonged use of broad spectrum antibiotic by mouths (which can destroy the colonic bacteria). Many antibiotics like penicillins, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol, amphotericin B, erythromycin are reported to cause vitamin K deficiency and hypoprothrombinemia.

Certain types of drugs can impair vitamin K function. These include warfarin and other 4-hydroxycoumarin anticoagulants and large doses of salicylates, which inhibit the redox cycling of the vitamin.

Newborn are particularly at risk because their food is limited to milk, which is low in vitamin K; their stores of the vitamin are low because inadequate amounts cross the placental and their intestinal tract is not yet populated by vitamin K-synthesizing bacteria.
Common causes of vitamin k deficiency in human

Vitamin K deficiency

Deficiency of vitamin K, an element necessary for formation of prothrombin and other clotting factors in the liver, produces abnormal bleeding.

Vitamin K deficiency can be caused by any of the following:
*A poor diet
*Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis
*Liver disease that interferes vitamin K storage
*The use of antibiotics, cholesterol-lowering drugs, mineral oil, aspirin and blood thinners

About one-half of the vitamin K may be provided by bacterial synthesis. Consequently, vitamin K deficiency may occur in adults subjects treated with antibiotics with antibiotics for extended period.

Low blood levels of vitamin K are associated with insulin release and glucose regulation problems, and may lead to low bone density in women.

Supplementing the diet with this vitamin enhances then bone building process by attracting calcium to the bone.

Supplemental vitamin K also reduces the amount of calcium in the urine and frees up more calcium to be used by the bone-building process.

The cardinal sign of vitamin K deficiency is an abnormal bleeding tendency, accompanied by prolonged prothrombin time; these signs disappear with vitamin K administration.
Vitamin K deficiency 

Symptoms of vitamin K deficiency

Deficiency of vitamin K, an element necessary for formation of prothrombin and other clotting factors in the liver, produces abnormal bleeding.

Vitamin K deficiency in the general population, but the risk is significantly greater in infants especially premature infants and those who are exclusively breast fed.

The cardinal sign of vitamin K deficiency is an abnormal bleeding tendency, accompanied by prolonged prothrombin time these signs disappear with vitamin K administration. Without treatment, bleeding may be severe and possibly fatal.

The symptoms of vitamin K deficiency included significant hemorrhage following mild trauma, ecchymosis, petechiae, hematomas, oozing of blood, loss of blood in stool or urine, nose bleed, hematuria, menorrhagia, epistaxis, heavy menstrual flow and mucosal bleeds.

Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn, characterized by a tendency to bleed, is the principal form of vitamin K deficiency.
Symptoms of vitamin K deficiency

The main reasons of magnesium deficiency

Magnesium deficiency is not uncommon. Deficiency may arise through reduced intake, reduced absorption or excessive excretion.

Magnesium deficiency is common in people with constipation. Magnesium deficiency results in constipation because it causes intestinal spasms. And people also can lose magnesium through frequent diarrhea.

Urinary loss of magnesium is also an important contributing cause of magnesium deficiency. The renal magnesium transport is influenced by the filtered sodium and calcium load.

This excess urinary excretion of sodium and calcium will increase magnesium clearance and lead to urinary magnesium losses. A very common reason for an increased urinary loss of magnesium is the widespread use of conventional diuretics.

Certain drugs – ammonium chloride and mercurial diuretics – result in loss of magnesium through the urine. 

Commonly, diabetes mellitus is associated with magnesium deficiency and exemplifiers osmotic-induce magnesium deficiency. The acidosis resulting from ketoacidosis, starvation or alcoholism may also lead to renal magnesium wasting.

Magnesium deficiency has been reported in children with protein-calorie malnutrition due to primarily to diarrhea which increases fecal loss of the mineral.

Magnesium plays an important role in the activity of electrically excitable tissues. Many enzymes are magnesium activated or dependent.

Magnesium is required by all enzymatic processes involving ATP and by many of the enzymes involved in nucleic acid metabolism.
The main reasons of magnesium deficiency

Essential fatty acids deficiency

Essential fatty acids are as important to out health as oxygen and water. Research links a deficiency in essential fatty acids to most illnesses and diseases.

There are three important functions of essential fatty acids, the most important is as part of phospholipids in all cellular membranes.

Secondly, this type of fatty acids act as precursors of prostanoids which are only formed from essential fatty acids and the last functions is of course as energy source.

The clinical manifestations of essential fatty acids deficiency in human include dry, scaly skin, usually erythematous eruptions, diffuse hair loss, poor wound healing failure of growth and increase metabolic rate.

It is also associated with capillary fragility, abnormal liver and kidney function and neurologic damage. During pregnancy, the fetus relies on material circulation and transfer of these essential fatty cods across the placenta. In case the growing tissues requirements are not met, the fetus is at increase risk for essential fatty acid deficiency.

In essential fatty acids deficiency, oleic acid can be dehydrogenated to yield polyunsaturated fatty acids that are non essential and do not substitute for the essential fatty acids.

The end products of non-essential fatty acids extension cannot however, function in cell membranes or in eicosanoid precursors.

Malnutrition is a common cause of essential fatty acid deficiency. American Heart Association and the FDA both recommended essential fatty acid supplements for cardiovascular benefits.

The National Institute on Aging proposes a correlation between Alzheimer’s diseases and a deficiency on essential fatty acids.

Deficiency of essential fatty acids in adults is rare, but has been seen in children fed virtually fat-free diets.

Essential fatty acids deficiency

Deficiency of manganese

A deficiency of manganese (which is extremely rare) may lead to atherosclerosis, confusion, eye problems, hearing problems, heart disorders, high cholesterol levels, hypertension irritability, memory loss, muscle contradiction, pancreatic damage, profuse perspiration, rapid pulse, teeth grinding, tremors and a tendency towards breast ailments.

Although people who consume normal varied diets do not appear to be at risk for manganese deficiency, certain disorders may cause suboptimal status.

Manganese deficiency has been shown to lead to bone demineralization and impaired growth in children, decreased serum cholesterol levels and a transient skin rash in young men, and mildly abnormal glucose tolerance in young women.
Deficiency of manganese

Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is the true epidemic of our times. It is perhaps more common than any other medical condition at the present time.

Deficiencies in vitamin D result in rickets (deformities of bone, such as bow legs and curvature of the spine) and teeth defects. It can cause osteomalacia in adults.

This due to deficient vitamin D levels resulting reduced calcium absorption, to only 10 to 15 percent of dietary calcium, and less than 50 percent absorption of dietary phosphorus. As a result, the protein scaffold made by osteoblasts can’t be mineralized.

There was a hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of prostate cancer, based on the finding that mortality rates of this cancer in the United States were inversely proportional to ultraviolet radiation.

Scientist also are looking for ways vitamin D and its derivatives might treat other conditions of abnormal cell growth, such as psoriasis and cancers of the blood, lung and cervix.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to increased risk for cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes.

Symptoms that point to vitamin D deficiency are muscle spasms, bone pain and joint pain. Lesser degrees of deficiency may be characterized by loss of appetite, a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, diarrhea, insomnia, visual problems, and weight loss.

Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency rickets

In an infant or child this deficiency results in the disease called rickets, in which the rapidly growing bones grow soft and eventually bend under the weight of the body.

It’s a defect in the mineralization of bone matrix with increase bone mass.

Affected children lack the exposure to ultraviolet light necessary for the dermal synthesis of vitamin D and have a poor diet in vitamin D in which the component (high fiber and high cereal) probably contribute to the excessive breakdown of vitamin D.

In adults, the same disorder is called osteomalacia or adult rickets. It is to be distinguished from osteoporosis where bone mass is decreased from hypophosphatemic osteopeniaof premature infants, and from renal osteodystrophy.

The name rickets is from the Old English wrickken, to twist. The more technical medical term, rachitis, which comes from Greek, the spine , was suggested by Francis Glisson in 1650.

Vitamin D deficiency rickets occurs in underprivileged populations throughout the world, particular in the northern hemisphere.

Women in United States usually take multivitamins and eat vitamin D dairy foods so rickets and vitamin D deficiency is less a problem than in developing countries and northern Europe.
Vitamin D deficiency rickets