Friday, July 25, 2008 by Dr. Manny
Avitaminosis is any disease caused by chronic or long-term vitamin deficiency or caused by a defect in metabolic conversion, such as tryptophan to niacin. They are designated by the same letter as the vitamin.
Conversely hypervitaminosis is the syndrome of symptoms caused by over-retention of fat-soluble vitamins in the body.
Types
Avitaminoses include
* vitamin A deficiency causes xerophthalmia or night blindness
* thiamine deficiency causes beriberi
* niacin deficiency causes pellagra
* vitamin B12 deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia
* vitamin C deficiency leads to scurvy
* vitamin D deficiency causes rickets
* vitamin K deficiency causes impaired coagulation.
