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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffBeing deficient in vitamins increases your risk of many health problems:
- Birth defects. Lack of folate in pregnant women can lead to birth defects of the brain and spinal cord.
- Nervous system disorders. While vitamin B-12 is important for the production of red blood cells, it's also important for a healthy nervous system. Untreated, vitamin B-12 deficiency can lead to neurological problems, such as persistent tingling in your hands and feet. It can lead to mental confusion and forgetfulness, because vitamin B-12 is necessary for healthy brain function. Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause these and other health problems before it leads to anemia.
- Scurvy. Vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy. Signs and symptoms of this rare disease include bleeding under the skin and around the gums.
References
- Schrier SL. Etiology and clinical manifestations of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 19, 2009.
- Pernicious anemia. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/prnanmia/prnanmia_all.html. Accessed Jan. 27, 2008.
- Folate. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec01/ch004/ch004c.html#sec01-ch004-ch004c-247. Accessed Jan. 28, 2009.
- Vitamin B-12. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec01/ch004/ch004i.html#sec01-ch004-ch004j-379. Accessed Jan. 28, 2009.
- Vitamin C. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec01/ch004/ch004j.html#sec01-ch004-ch004k-403. Accessed Jan. 28, 2009.
- Dietary supplement fact sheet: Vitamin B12. Office of Dietary Supplements. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminb12.asp#h3. Accessed Jan. 28, 2009.
- Dietary supplement fact sheet: Folate. Office of Dietary Supplements. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/folate.asp. Accessed Jan. 28, 2009.
- Food sources of selected nutrients. Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. USDA and Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/AppendixB.htm. Accessed Jan. 28, 2009.
- Alcoholic beverages. Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. USDA and Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/html/chapter9.htm. Accessed Jan. 28, 2009.
