What is avitaminosis and how to deal with it? What herbal products will help with beriberi? Causes of avitaminosis B1 (thiamine).
Thank you
The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Expert advice is required!
What is avitaminosis?
Avitaminosis- this is a condition in which the body has a deficiency or complete absence of one or another vitamin. Complete or partial vitamin deficiency is common. According to statistics, from 30 to 80 percent of the population of the Russian Federation suffers from a constant lack of ascorbic acid and folic acid, as well as vitamins B1, B2 and B6. The most frequently diagnosed deficiency is vitamin C (ascorbic acid), which is experienced by about 70 percent of Russians. Insufficient amount of vitamin E was found in 60 percent of the subjects. More than half of pregnant women suffer from a lack of vitamin B9 (folic acid), and almost all expectant mothers experience vitamin B6 deficiency.
Vitamin deficiency is a common pathology in other countries. For example, 60 percent of Germans have a lack of vitamin D. Two-thirds of the Canadian population suffers from the same problem. In the United States of America, about 13 percent of deaths are due to a lack of this vitamin. In Europe, this figure is slightly less. Vitamin D deficiency causes about 9 percent of the population to die.
Gender is a significant factor in certain vitamin deficiencies. So, the lack of vitamin B2 in most cases occurs in females. It affects every 5 girls aged 11 to 18 years and every 8 older women.
Interesting Facts
Separate forms of beriberi have been known to medicine since antiquity. More sailors died from a deficiency of ascorbic acid than during naval battles and shipwrecks. Such famous navigators as Ferdinand Magellan and Vasco da Gama faced this disease. The development of scurvy (the highest degree of vitamin C deficiency) was facilitated by the peculiarities of the diet of sailors, in which there were no fresh vegetables and fruits, but crackers and salted meat prevailed. For a long time, doctors could not establish a connection between this disease and the nutritional habits of sick people. In 1536, the French navigator Jacques Cartier spent the winter in Canada and over 100 of his crew fell ill with scurvy. The sick French were saved by local Indians, who offered them water infused with pine needles for treatment. Pine needles are still used in folk medicine for the treatment and prevention of vitamin C deficiency. The first to treat scurvy with fresh fruits and vegetables was a doctor from Scotland, James Lind. The physician found that the fastest recovery occurs if the patients are fed oranges and lemons.
Another problem seafarers faced was beriberi disease. This disease is a consequence of the lack of vitamin B1 in the diet. Japanese sailors, whose menu consisted mainly of rice, were especially deficient in this vitamin. The first to fight this problem was Admiral Baron Takaki, who diversified the diet of crew members of sea vessels. 3 years later, the example of the Japanese was followed by the Norwegian fleet. Rye crackers were replaced with wheat bread, and instead of margarine they began to give out natural butter. This has significantly reduced the incidence of beriberi.
Another type of vitamin deficiency, which was known in ancient Egypt, is the lack of retinol (vitamin A). One of the manifestations of this condition is night blindness (problems with vision in the dark). Hippocrates, the father of medicine, treated patients suffering from night blindness with raw liver.
Causes of beriberi A, E, PP and C
The development of beriberi contributes to a complex of causes of internal and external nature. The main circumstance that provokes this phenomenon is insufficient provision of the body with vitamins. Also, beriberi may be the result of a disturbed process of production or absorption of vitamins. The specificity of the causes of beriberi is determined by the type of vitamin that the body lacks. Causes of beriberi A (retinol)
Lack of vitamin A can be triggered by an unbalanced diet, as this element enters the body together with food. Another factor that contributes to beriberi A is its poor absorption in the body.The reasons for poor absorption of retinol are:
- insufficient amount of fat;
- lack of tocopherol and zinc in the body;
- bad habits;
- various diseases.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and the body needs fats to fully absorb it. Under all conditions, reserves of this element are formed in the liver. This allows the body to function for some time without the intake of the vitamin. Insufficient inclusion of fats in the diet leads to the fact that the vitamin is not absorbed and deposited in the liver, which provokes beriberi A.
Lack of tocopherol and zinc in the body
For the full absorption of retinol, the body needs tocopherol and zinc. In the absence of these elements, the absorption of vitamin A is disrupted.
Bad habits
The use of products containing tobacco or alcohol leads to a decrease in the functionality of the liver. The deterioration of the work of this organ inhibits the absorption of vitamin A.
Various diseases
There are a number of diseases in which the body's ability to absorb fat is impaired.
Diseases that can provoke beriberi A are:
- syndrome of insufficient absorption (a set of symptoms in which the absorption of vitamins worsens);
- hepatitis (inflammatory liver disease);
- violation of the motility of the gallbladder (a pathology in which the outflow of bile is disturbed);
- ulcerative lesions of the stomach (defects in the gastric mucosa).
Causes of beriberi E (tocopherol)
Tocopherol deficiency may develop due to the patient's diet or the presence of certain diseases.Factors that contribute to beriberi E are:
- poor supply of the body with a vitamin;
- adherence to strict diets;
- violations of the outflow of bile;
- other diseases.
Vitamin E deficiency can be caused by inadequate dietary intake. This element is found only in herbal products. Therefore, a small amount of cereals and leafy vegetables in the diet can cause beriberi E. Because of this, tocopherol deficiency is often found in residents of economically developed countries, whose diet is dominated by animal products.
Following strict diets
A common cause of tocopherol deficiency is the adherence to various diets that involve the restriction or complete rejection of vegetable and / or animal fats. The lack of lipids (fats) in the diet leads to the fact that vitamin E is not absorbed well enough and its deficiency develops.
Another factor due to which diets contribute to vitamin deficiency of this vitamin is dramatic weight loss. Since tocopherol accumulates in the adipose tissue of the body, its reserves are depleted during weight loss. Also, with a sharp loss of kilograms, a large amount of cholesterol is released due to the breakdown of fats. Cholesterol impairs liver function, and tocopherol begins to be absorbed worse.
Violation of the outflow of bile
Entering the body, vitamin E, together with fats, is emulsified by bile, which ensures its normal absorption. In pathological conditions that are associated with a deterioration in the outflow of bile, the process of absorption of tocopherol is disturbed.
Diseases that provoke vitamin E deficiency are:
- cholelithiasis (the formation of hard stones in the gallbladder and / or ducts of this organ);
- pancreatitis (inflammatory lesion of the pancreas);
- cholecystitis (infectious disease of the gallbladder);
- hepatitis (inflammatory damage to the tissue structures of the liver);
- liver failure (decrease in one or more liver functions);
- cirrhosis of the liver (pathological changes in the structure of the liver).
The lack of tocopherol may be associated with pathologies of the digestive system, in which the ability of the intestine to absorb this vitamin is reduced. Diseases such as Crohn's disease (inflammatory lesions of the digestive tract mucosa), intestinal diverticula (protrusions of the intestinal walls), and celiac disease (protein intolerance) can lead to a critical amount of vitamin E.
In some diseases of the genital area, the body's need for this element increases, and if it is insufficiently supplied, vitamin deficiency E may develop.
An increased consumption of this vitamin is also observed with dysfunction of the nervous system and a number of skin diseases.
Causes of beriberi PP (nicotinic acid)
Deficiency of nicotinic acid can be caused by a number of diseases or features of the treatment. For the full assimilation of this vitamin, the participation of a number of elements is necessary, and if they are insufficient, vitamin deficiency RR may also develop. Often the cause of the lack of nicotinic acid is the peculiarities of the diet.Factors that provoke vitamin deficiency RR are:
- nutritional deficit;
- decrease in the absorption function of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Hartnup's disease.
A person receives vitamin PP along with food. Also, this element is synthesized by the body from an essential amino acid called tryptophan. Therefore, a deficiency can develop both due to insufficient intake of nicotinic acid and tryptophan. Most often, nutritional deficiency of vitamin PP occurs in regions where a large amount of corn products is consumed. This is due to the fact that nicotinic acid is presented in the composition of this cereal crop in a form that is difficult to digest, and very little tryptophan is contained.
The conversion of tryptophan to niacin (nicotinic acid) requires the presence of vitamin B6 and copper. Therefore, if the diet is poor in these elements, the process of nicotinic acid synthesis is inhibited and its deficiency develops.
Decreased absorption of the gastrointestinal tract
With insufficient absorption function of the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract, the absorption of nicotinic acid worsens.
Pathologies that contribute to vitamin deficiency PP are:
- chronic enteritis (pathological change in the structure of the small intestine mucosa due to inflammation);
- chronic gastroenteritis (joint inflammation of the stomach and jejunum);
- resection of the jejunum (complete or partial removal of this organ);
- intestinal tuberculosis (chronic infection);
- dysentery (infectious disease).
This disease is a hereditary pathology. Hartnup's disease is characterized by impaired metabolism of a number of amino acids, including tryptophan. Patients with this disease do not produce nicotinic acid, which leads to its deficiency.
Causes of beriberi C (ascorbic acid)
Vitamin C deficiency can be caused by one or more factors.The causes of beriberi C are:
- inadequate diet;
- violation of the functionality of some organs.
Vitamin C is not produced in the human body and comes from the outside along with food. Most often, vitamin deficiency develops during a period when the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is significantly reduced.
Ascorbic acid is distinguished by its instability. This vitamin is destroyed by heat treatment and exposure to sunlight. Therefore, a lack of vitamin can be triggered by the peculiarities of the diet, which limits the consumption of raw fruits and vegetables.
Smoking
Tobacco products contain substances that destroy ascorbic acid. Therefore, in persons who systematically use tobacco products, the need for this vitamin increases by 2 times. In the absence of a full supply of ascorbic acid, a shortage of this element develops.
Intoxication (poisoning)
When a poisonous substance enters the body, vitamin C begins to be consumed in increased doses. This happens because ascorbic acid is involved in the formation of the conditions necessary for the normal functionality of internal organs in case of poisoning. Therefore, intoxication with industrial poisons, heavy metals or drugs significantly increases the consumption of vitamin C. This can lead to its critical content in the body.
Violation of the functionality of some organs
Ascorbic acid is absorbed in the jejunum. Pathological disorders in the structure of this organ inhibit the process of assimilation of vitamin C. So, beriberi C can develop with enteritis (atrophy of the intestinal mucosa), ulcers (damage to the mucous membranes) and other inflammatory lesions. Often, ascorbic acid deficiency develops in patients with achilia (a disease in which the composition of gastric juice is disturbed).
With a number of certain diseases, the body's need for vitamin C increases. In the case of a protracted course of the disease and in the absence of the required amount of ascorbic acid, there is a lack of this vitamin.
Diseases in which vitamin C deficiency develops are:
- burn disease(damage to the skin and tissues due to thermal exposure). Ascorbic acid takes part in the regeneration of damaged areas, therefore it is consumed by the body in an increased amount.
- state of shock(reaction to severe stress or trauma). Vitamin C is used by the body to restore lost functions.
- Oncological diseases(degeneration of epithelial cells into malignant formations). Vitamin deficiency is provoked by both pathological processes in the body and the treatment for such diseases.
Causes of vitamin B deficiency
The B group of vitamins is very numerous and contains more than 20 vitamins. The most common types of B vitamin deficiencies are:
- avitaminosis B1 (thiamine);
- avitaminosis B2 (riboflavin);
- avitaminosis B5 (pantothenic acid);
- avitaminosis B6 (pyridoxine);
- avitaminosis B9 (folic acid);
- avitaminosis B12 (cyanocobalamin).
Causes of beriberi B1 (thiamine)
Thiamine deficiency can develop due to inadequate provision of the body with this element or with an inadequate absorption process. In some situations, the body's need for this vitamin increases, which can also provoke its shortage.Insufficient intake of vitamin B1
Vitamin B1 is part of the products of plant and animal origin. Especially a lot of it in everyday products (bread, meat, cereals). Therefore, thiamine deficiency due to an unbalanced diet is rare. Sometimes avitaminosis B1 can be the result of long-term consumption of carbohydrates with insufficient amounts of protein foods.
Violation of the absorption process
Some substances can have a negative effect on the absorption of vitamin B1. Such elements can be contained in food products, drinks or medicines.
Violates the absorption of thiamine the following products:
- alcohol and tobacco products;
- coffee and other caffeinated products;
- products with a high concentration of citric acid;
- dishes that contain raw fish;
- vitamin B6 (inhibits the transition of thiamine into active forms);
- antibiotics (loses properties of both vitamin B1 and drugs).
The need for thiamine increases with incompetence of the gastrointestinal tract, acute and chronic infections, and diabetes mellitus. The need for this element increases after surgical operations and in stressful situations.
Causes of beriberi B2 (riboflavin)
The reasons that cause a lack of riboflavin include some features of the diet, leading to a reduction in the amount of vitamin supplied with food. With high doses of physical activity and a number of other factors, the need for this element increases, which also causes its deficiency. Some diseases or taking medications can also provoke avitaminosis B2.Factors that provoke avitaminosis B2 are:
- features of the diet;
- an increase in the daily intake of a vitamin;
- taking antagonist drugs (weakening the effect of riboflavin);
- disorders of the digestive process.
Insufficient consumption of dairy, meat and fish products can cause avitaminosis B2. Often a deficiency of this element is diagnosed in supporters of a vegetarian diet. Intensive consumption of products from purified (refined) wheat flour also contributes to the formation of riboflavin deficiency.
During processing and cooking, the amount of B2 in foods may decrease. Compared to other vitamins, B2 is quite resistant to thermal effects, but quickly loses its properties under the influence of light. So, in milk, left even for a short time in the light, the amount of riboflavin is significantly reduced. Also, this vitamin can be destroyed if baking soda is added to the dish.
Increasing daily vitamin intake
The body's need for this vitamin increases with the systematic use of alcoholic products, since alcohol disrupts the absorption of riboflavin. The daily rate of B2 increases twice in women who take contraceptive oral contraceptives. Athletes and those people whose activities involve increased physical activity also need to increase the standard dose of riboflavin. A large consumption of vitamin B2 is associated with its participation in various metabolic processes.
Taking antagonist drugs (weakening the effect of riboflavin)
One of the pronounced riboflavin antagonists is quinacrine (a drug used to treat malaria, giardiasis, lupus erythematosus). Various antipsychotics (psychotropic drugs for the treatment of mental disorders) and tranquilizers (drugs that relieve tension and fatigue) block the action of vitamin B2.
Disorders of the digestive process
The failure of some organs, associated with a violation of the process of assimilation of food, leads to avitaminosis B2. Diseases that can cause a deficiency of this element include colitis (inflammatory lesions of the colon), enterocolitis (joint inflammation of the small and large intestines), peptic ulcer (defects in the gastric mucosa and / or duodenum).
Causes of beriberi B5 (pantothenic acid)
Vitamin B5 deficiency is rare. Among the factors that lead to the insufficiency of this element, one can note the long-term use of fast food and semi-finished products. Such products contain a small amount of complete fats and proteins, vitamin C and vitamin B1, which are necessary for the absorption of pantothenic acid.Intestinal dysfunction, in which the absorption of nutrients and vitamins is impaired, can also lead to vitamin B5 deficiency. Stressful situations, difficult operations and increased physical activity provoke an increase in the need for pantothenic acid. If dietary intake does not cover the increased need for this element, its deficiency may develop.
Causes of beriberi B6 (pyridoxine)
Vitamin B6 penetrates into the body in an endogenous and exogenous way. In the first case, pyridoxine is synthesized by the intestinal microflora, in the second case, it is supplied with food.The causes of vitamin B6 deficiency are:
- insufficient provision of the body with fiber;
- frequent overexcitation of the nervous system;
- therapy with certain drugs;
- inhibition of the functions of the intestinal microflora.
During pregnancy, the production of estrogen in the female body increases. This hormone inhibits the function of pyridoxine. At the final stages of gestation, the need for this vitamin increases hundreds of times, which can cause beriberi.
Inadequate provision of the body with fiber
Nutritional deficiencies are rare as this vitamin is found in a wide group of foods. At the same time, with a small amount of plant fiber (vegetables, cereals) against the background of excessive consumption of protein foods (meat, fish), B6 deficiency may develop. This happens because the intestines need a balanced intake of all elements to produce this vitamin.
Frequent overexcitation of the nervous system
Pyridoxine is involved in the production of the hormone serotonin, which regulates arousal and helps to resist stress. With frequent stressful situations, the synthesis of this hormone increases, and therefore the need for vitamin B6 becomes higher. Therefore, people who are often nervous can develop a deficiency of this element.
Therapy with certain drugs
Medications that inhibit the effects of pyridoxine include hormonal and contraceptives. Also, B6 blockers are antibiotics and drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis.
Inhibition of the functions of the intestinal microflora
With dysbacteriosis (violation of the qualitative composition of the intestinal microflora), the production of vitamin B6 decreases. Also, with intestinal pathologies, the quality of absorption of pyridoxine, which comes with food, deteriorates.
Causes of beriberi B9 (folic acid)
Folic acid deficiency can be triggered by one or a combination of factors related to a person's lifestyle, food culture and food preparation. A lack of vitamin B9 can be a manifestation of certain diseases or a consequence of drug therapy.Factors that provoke vitamin deficiency of folic acid are:
- nutritional deficiency;
- drug therapy;
- increased body need for vitamin B9;
- violation of the assimilation process;
Inadequate intake of vitamin B9 from food is the root cause of the deficiency of this element. It is found in a large number of products of everyday consumption, but it is unstable and breaks down very quickly. So, folic acid is destroyed even at room temperature, and about 90 percent of this vitamin is lost during heat treatment. Such features of vitamin B9 contribute to the spread of alimentary folic acid deficiency.
Nutritional malnutrition is common among the poor due to the overconsumption of poor quality canned and processed foods.
Medical therapy
There are a number of drugs that suppress the function of folic acid. Some drugs form insoluble substances with B9, which are exported from the body naturally. There are also groups of drugs that reduce the concentration of folate (folic acid) in the blood or interfere with the process of their absorption in the intestine.
Thus, a deficiency of folic acid develops, despite its sufficient intake.
Drugs that can cause avitaminosis B9 are:
- antacids (medicines designed to neutralize the hydrochloric acid of the stomach);
- sulfonamides (a type of antibiotic);
- anti-epilepsy drugs;
- oral contraceptives;
- corticosteroids (drugs to suppress inflammation in various diseases);
- nitrofuran preparations (prescribed for diseases of the urogenital area);
- cytostatics (antineoplastic agents).
The need for vitamin B9 increases when there is intensive tissue renewal. Especially a lot of folic acid is consumed by renewing tissues of the bone marrow and the epithelial lining of the gastrointestinal tract. Such phenomena are observed in oncological diseases of these organs, when the growth of new cells progresses. Also, the need for folic acid becomes higher with anemia (anemia), certain skin diseases, during the period of active growth and adolescents and young children. If the supply of the body does not cover the increased rate of folate, folate deficiency develops. By the same principle, there is a deficiency of vitamin B9 in pregnant women.
Violation of the assimilation process
Folic acid absorption is impaired in patients suffering from gastrointestinal disorders. For absorption in the intestines, vitamin B9 undergoes a transformation process with the help of the enzyme conjugase. In a number of diseases, the activity of this substance decreases or disappears, which is a favorable factor for the development of folic acid deficiency.
Diseases that provoke beriberi B9 are:
- sprue (chronic violation of the process of assimilation of nutrients and vitamins);
- chronic diarrhea (stool disorder);
- Crohn's disease (chronic inflammation affecting the small and/or large intestine);
- colitis (damage to the large intestine);
- enteritis (disturbance of the functions of the small intestine due to inflammation).
The reason for the lack of folic acid is often the abuse of alcohol. This bad habit has a destructive effect not only on the processes of assimilation, but also on the supply of tissues with vitamin B9. Alcohol interferes with the participation of folic acid in metabolic processes and leads to a sharp decrease in the level of this element in the blood serum. As a result, in individuals who systematically consume alcohol more than normal, B9 deficiency can develop within a few weeks.
Causes of beriberi B12 (cobalamin)
Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common pathology and can be congenital or acquired.The following factors contribute to cobalamin deficiency:
- alimentary insufficiency;
- poor absorption of the vitamin by the body;
- increased vitamin intake;
- impaired metabolism (exchange) of the vitamin.
The main source of vitamin B12 is animal products. Therefore, the reason for the insufficient supply of this element from the outside are strict vegetarian diets, which involve the rejection of not only meat, but also milk, eggs, and butter. Nutritional deficiencies of this vitamin are also found in low-income segments of the population who consume a limited amount of meat products, replacing it with semi-finished products and other low-quality food products.
Poor absorption of the vitamin by the body
When the absorption process is disturbed, the body receives a sufficient amount of cobalamin, but it does not flow in adequate amounts from the intestines into the blood. For adequate assimilation of this element, an enzyme (Castle's intrinsic factor) is needed, which is synthesized by the mucous membranes of the stomach. With an insufficient amount of this substance, vitamin B12 entering the body is excreted from the intestines naturally. The reasons for the lack of internal factor of Castle can be congenital or acquired pathologies of the stomach. Various diseases of the small intestine can also negatively affect the process of assimilation of cobalamin.
The different types of beriberi include:
- avitaminosis of vitamin A;
- avitaminosis of vitamin E;
- avitaminosis of vitamin C, popularly referred to as scurvy;
- avitaminosis of B vitamins, includes avitaminosis of vitamin B1 (or beriberi disease), vitamin B2, vitamin B3 (or vitamin PP), vitamin B6;
- avitaminosis of vitamin D;
- avitaminosis of vitamin K.
Seasonal beriberi
Vitamin deficiency most often develops during transitional periods (autumn and spring). Therefore, one of the names of this pathology is seasonal beriberi. The most susceptible to this disorder are residents of the northern regions or people who live in areas with a pronounced continental climate.Variants of beriberi, depending on seasonality, include:
- autumn beriberi;
- winter beriberi;
- spring beriberi.
spring beriberi
The causes of spring beriberi are:- inadequate intake of vitamins;
- depletion of vitamin reserves;
- lack of sunlight.
In early spring, fruits and vegetables grown in year-round greenhouses or imported from warm countries are eaten. Such products are characterized by high cost, which limits their use. Due to the peculiarities of the growing and storage process, the amount of vitamins in greenhouse or imported products is unsatisfactory. Therefore, in addition to the price, the disadvantage of such fruits and vegetables is their minimal nutritional value. All these factors lead to the fact that the supply of vitamins to the body from the outside is disturbed.
Vitamin depletion
During the winter period, fresh fruits and vegetables are replaced with canned products. During the preservation process, a significant amount of vitamins is destroyed, especially when using vinegar marinades. Insufficient intake of vitamins leads to the depletion of vitamin reserves, which is most pronounced in early spring.
Lack of sunlight
A large role in the development of spring beriberi is the lack of sunlight. Lack of sun provokes a deficiency of vitamin D, which stimulates the immune system. Reduced immunity leads to various diseases, against the background of which the body's need for vitamins increases.
Autumn beriberi
Autumn beriberi is associated with the adaptation of the body to the change of season. With the onset of autumn, people begin to spend less time outdoors due to weather conditions. The autumn period for many is associated with such events as the end of the vacation, the return to routine and ordinary life, the onset of the study period. The combination of physiological and mental circumstances provokes malfunctions of the body, which often lead to depression. A decrease in emotional tone implies an increase in the need for vitamins. The consumption of foods rich in vitamins decreases significantly in autumn. This, against the background of an increased need for vitamins, leads to vitamin deficiency.Stages of beriberi
Vitamin deficiency can be of several degrees.
The degrees of vitamin deficiency are:
- First degree- subclinical. At this stage, there are no clinical manifestations of vitamin deficiency and, accordingly, there are no complaints from the patient. The lack of a vitamin (or vitamins) can only be seen by laboratory tests.
- Second degree- clinical. Manifested by both clinical and laboratory signs. It is also called the stage of hypovitaminosis, since the reserves of vitamins in the body are not completely depleted.
- Third degree- actually avitaminosis. This is an extreme degree of vitamin deficiency, which is now recorded in third world countries. Also, this degree of vitamin deficiency occurs in people with chronic pathology of the gastrointestinal tract.
Exogenous beriberi
Exogenous or primary beriberi is caused by insufficient intake of the vitamin (or vitamins) in the body. As a rule, this is due to a lack of vitamins in food.Endogenous beriberi
Endogenous or secondary beriberi is caused by inadequate absorption or digestion of vitamins by the body. Thus, there are enough vitamins in food, but the body for some reason (chronic diseases, congenital anomalies) does not absorb them. There are contraindications. Before use, you should consult with a specialist.Doctors call avitaminosis a long-term lack of vitamins in the body. From the point of view of the inhabitants, this is not so scary, but in fact it is fraught with dangerous consequences that pose a threat to life.
Vitamins are a group of organic substances of various chemical nature that are necessary for a person in minimal quantities. But their absence makes it impossible for the normal operation of all body systems.
The role of vitamins in the human body
Vitamins regulate many physiological processes, normalize metabolic reactions and affect the entire life support system from different angles. Without them, cellular respiration and nutrition, growth and development, and movement are impossible. The differentiation of cells in organs and tissues is disturbed.
In addition, vitamins are able to regulate the body's resistance to infectious diseases and negative manifestations of the natural environment. The development of beriberi begins due to the partial or absolute absence of certain vitamins in the body.
Causes of beriberi
The reasons why vitamin deficiency appears are different. The main one is an unbalanced diet with an abundance of refined foods and a lack of fresh herbs, vegetables, fruits, etc. in the human diet. Others are due to disorders in the gastrointestinal tract and metabolic processes. Often there is a failure in the intestine during the absorption of the digested mass by the villi, the cellular transport of minerals and inorganic substances to the tissues and their transformation into a biologically active form are often disturbed.
Symptoms of beriberi
To identify the nature of vitamin deficiency and prescribe adequate treatment, the help of specialists is needed. After a cold winter, with the onset of the first warm weather, beriberi and a lack of minerals appear in almost all people. The main signs are noticeable immediately. The skin becomes dehydrated, becomes dry up to exfoliation of epithelial particles. Annoy misfortunes in the form of acne, barley and boils, cracked lips, bleeding gums. Derivatives of the epithelium suffer: the nail plates exfoliate, and the hair grows dull and actively falls out.
The immune defense falls, the body is attacked. There is irritability and fatigue. The person is exhausted, he is constantly sleepy. Unable to concentrate, becomes forgetful. In the absence of treatment, the work of the visual analyzer is disrupted, the sharpness of twilight vision decreases.
Measures to combat beriberi
The simplest and most effective method of combating beriberi is to establish a complete balanced diet. Throughout the year, and especially in winter-spring, it is necessary to “prescribe” all kinds of green crops, vegetables, nuts, fruits, freshly squeezed juices in the daily menu unchanged. With limited financial resources, exotic herbal products can be replaced with inexpensive analogues. "Live" vitamins in everyday local vegetables and fruits are more than enough.
An erroneous opinion has formed that tropical fruits are champions in terms of the reserve of active biological substances. But few people know that ordinary greens from the garden - sorrel, dill or parsley - will not leave bananas and other exotics the slightest chance of winning, far surpassing them in useful properties. So in spring and summer, you should definitely take note of this greenery. And bananas can be eaten in winter.
Pharmaceutics in the fight against avitaminosis
The pharmaceutical industry, in order to prevent beriberi, has established the production of vitamin complexes. The instructions for use recommend three doses per day, since most of these substances are not able to accumulate in the body and be consumed as needed (with the exception of vitamins A, D, E, K).
When taking drugs in the morning, the body absorbs only the dosage necessary for a given time period, and the rest of the components are excreted from the body by the excretory system. In the daytime and evening, the need to receive biologically active substances is still relevant.
When taking vitamins, one must take into account that they are classified into water-soluble and fat-soluble. Vitamins C, K and P belong to the first group, while A, D, E, K are absorbed only in the presence of fats. When preparing dishes, it is important to observe the conditions in order to evenly balance their content, preserving water-soluble as much as possible and ensuring the digestibility of fat-soluble ones.
"Vitamins" (tablets, capsules or potions) - are synthetic in nature. Often they are involved in the body's metabolic processes for much longer, their absorption can be slowed down in comparison with "live" vitamins in the composition of vegetables and fruits. It is necessary to regularly consume vitamins in the composition of fresh plant foods. But regarding the intake of synthetic type vitamins, this advice is unacceptable! Uncontrolled intake of synthetic vitamins is extremely harmful and can lead to hypervitaminosis.
Avitaminosis. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with that. But such an opinion is erroneous, since the lack of it affects all its functions and disrupts the work of many internal organs and systems.
What it is
Many of us have come across the concept of beriberi. Such phrases as "seasonal vitamin deficiency", "spring and autumn vitamin deficiency" are especially popular among the people. But, in fact, these concepts hide the usual seasonal lack of vitamins that occurs in the fall and which is not critical for the body and is easily replenished with the start when using fresh and or after taking the simplest vitamin complexes. But this condition is rather called hypovitaminosis - a deficiency of one or more types of vitamins, which, although there are only in small quantities in the body, are still present. 
With proper care and concern for your health, such a vitamin deficiency is quickly replenished with the necessary substances. But if we have so far only talked about hypovitaminosis, then what is beriberi and how does it manifest itself? Avitaminosis is a very serious disorder in the functioning of the human body, which is accompanied by global functional disorders and can lead to severe complications, and sometimes, in case of acute total deficiency, even death. However, with timely treatment, the disease has a favorable prognosis and in most cases is easily cured. With beriberi, there is a critical shortage or complete absence of one or more vitamins. Cellular respiration, cell nutrition, their growth, division and differentiation are possible only with the participation of vitamin and mineral complexes in these processes. As a result, the development and renewal of organs, tissues and systems occurs. The body begins to more successfully resist infections and various diseases, improves system performance and resistance to various negative influences from the outside world. But sometimes it happens that a vitamin deficiency occurs, and one in which any vitamin may be absent in the human body at all. There can be many common causes of beriberi of any kind:
- poor diet, lack of fresh and, cereals, eggs, or cottage cheese;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in which vitamins are not absorbed by the intestinal villi and simply do not enter;
- disturbances in the functioning of cellular transport, due to which vitamins do not become biologically active substances in tissues;
- improper metabolism;
- vitamins can not be synthesized and not absorbed by the person himself;
- addictions that disrupt the synthesis and absorption of vitamins;
- chronic or persistent;
- the feeding period of a young mother, when all the vitamins go to the baby;
- reception, which "turn off" the action of vitamins. These are, for example, some antibacterial drugs, which include acetylsalicylic acid and inactivating agents necessary to thin the blood and reduce its clotting.
Important! Although the lack of vitamins is dangerous for them, their excess is sometimes even more dangerous and can cause serious consequences, ranging from very high temperatures to the complete inability of the body to produce insulin. Therefore, in no case should you carelessly take all vitamin complexes in unlimited quantities! Taking the drug should be agreed with the doctor, and the dose and time of administration should be strictly observed.
There are also common symptoms that indicate a lack of vitamins in the body:- state changes - they become dull, excessively split and broken, the number of dropped out increases;
- nails also suffer - they begin to exfoliate and crumble, very soft and fragile;
- becomes dry and pale, looks lethargic and even a little grayish;
- lips quickly dry out and crack, may appear on the lips;
- becomes not so sharp, and sometimes worsens significantly;
- blood may appear during, as the bleeding of the gums increases;
- begins to get sick often and SARS;
- old chronic diseases are exacerbated and become more frequent, for example, fungal infections, at, herpetic sores;
- worsens, and sometimes completely disappears;
- there is aching pain in the joints and muscle tissues, convulsions may appear;
- the psychological sphere also suffers - for the most part, he is apathetic and depressed, prone to, drowsy and lethargic, hardly gets out of bed, worsens, in particular, memory and concentration suffer.
Causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of different types
Despite the general signs of beriberi, the lack of a particular vitamin manifests itself differently from others, has its own causes, methods of diagnosis and treatment.
A
Vitamin A, also known in medical circles as retinol, is involved in many life processes, providing skin renewal, sharpness, strengthening, harmonizing the central nervous system and maintaining hormone balance. The lack of this substance can be caused, firstly, by a violation of its intake from, and, secondly, due to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (or malabsorption, decreased gastric secretion), due to which the vitamin is not absorbed. 
Also, the cause of violations can be a period and, old age, kidney and liver diseases in a chronic course, diseases of the biliary tract. Symptoms of beriberi A are manifested in:
- violation of sharpness;
- burning sensation and dryness, lack of lacrimal secretions;
- the appearance of "night blindness", that is, vision worsens;
- possible appearance of a thorn in the eye;
- peels off and becomes dry;
- brittle and dry;
- yellowing of the nail plate;
- turn yellow.
- and products from it;
- liver;
- seafood;
- butter;
- maritime;
- apricots;
- - spinach, lettuce and.
B
To group B include many vitamins that are very important for a healthy life. These substances are responsible for metabolic processes in the body, ensure the efficiency of internal organs and systems, and support. But each vitamin from this group is distinguished by its specific symptoms. However, these substances should enter the body in a complex, and not separately, since they are closely interconnected.
Important! Warning ! Vitamin B12 is not synthesized by the body, but can only accumulate. And animals do it much better. Therefore, eating only plant foods, extremely poor in B12, is guaranteed to cause its deficiency. To avoid this, be sure to take B12 in medication form..
C
Deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) appears for the same reasons as other types of vitamin deficiency. Of particular danger are periods when the body is weakened - and breastfeeding, active growth in, the elderly age of a person, excessive stress, both physical and mental. Symptoms of beriberi C are manifested by increased bleeding, including gums, development, breathing problems and indigestion, fatigue and weakness, the presence of pain without a specific localization. Deficiency is treated With the introduction of large doses into the patient's diet, for example, through (vegetables and berries, black currants, tomatoes and spinach), as well as with the help of drug administration through tablets or injections. 
D
() is a synthetic compound that is produced by human skin under the influence of sunlight - ultraviolet radiation. With a lack of D, growth and development slow down, and general symptoms are manifested by lesions of the teeth (caries), joint pain, cramps, fragility of bones and their violation, the appearance of stoop, weight loss and weakness. Deficiency causes such serious diseases as rickets, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, multiple sclerosis and type 2 diabetes. Vitamin D deficiency is treated by including foods such as beef and pork liver, chicken eggs, dairy products, and oily fish in the diet. Ultraviolet irradiation, calcium supplementation and concomitant treatment of internal diseases are also prescribed. 
E
(tocopherol) is very dependent on the external and internal environment of the body. It is easily destroyed under the influence of toxic substances such as or nicotine. Therefore, people who are prone to are much more prone to vitamin deficiency of tocopherol. Lack of E causes cirrhosis of the liver, and impotence. The aging process is also accelerated, the skin quickly fades, is broken. 
A person with beriberi E becomes very quick-tempered and irritable, and quickly gets tired, even if there were no physical or mental stress. For treatment, the patient is prescribed rich in tocopherol: eggs, cabbage and spinach, and carrots. Very useful vegetable fats - sesame and linseed oil. Also, a large amount of tocopherol is found in herbs such as motherwort, mint and wild rose, mountain ash and. Therefore, it is recommended to consume herbal from these herbal mixtures.
F
Vitamin F consists of a complex of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which belongs to the substances and omega-6. This complex contributes to the production of energy by the body, participates in the transfer of oxygen, regulates hormonal balance, and provides interaction between cells. Fatty acids affect work, relieve inflammation, strengthen the immune system, and are also able to reduce levels. Avitaminosis F is fraught for a person with diseases and blood vessels (heart attack,), paralysis, the development of oncological diseases with a rapid course and a general weakening of the body.
Important! The most effective use of omega-3 and omega-6 in the process of eating, as well as with the concomitant intake of vitamin E, which contributes to better absorption of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids.
There is a lack of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids with skin disorders (dermatitis, acne, acne), frequent and menstrual irregularities, swelling, deterioration of hair and nails, child hyperactivity and general disorders in the nervous system in the form deterioration in memory and concentration, fatigue and weakness, there are problems with arthritis, hypertension, children's scoliosis. The lack of F is filled with rich foods.
For many people, vitamin A deficiency is characterized by a deterioration in the work of the visual apparatus, but no more. In fact, retinol performs many important functions in the body and even a slight lack of it leads to serious health problems.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble biologically active substance, which belongs to the indispensable components of the human body (its intake is possible only with food). There are two forms of this vitamin: retinol (a complete vitamin complex) and carotene (provitamin A). In the human body, this component performs the following functions:
- stimulation of cell growth;
- elimination of oxidation processes and, accordingly, slowing down the aging of the body;
- normalization of redox balance;
- improving the functioning of retinal cells;
- participation in the formation of bone tissue and teeth.
Why does avitaminosis occur?
A-avitaminosis appears more often in the spring season, when there is a shortage of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet. In such situations, complex deficiencies of vitamin elements are noted. The main causes of hypo and avitaminosis of vitamin A are as follows:- malnutrition or a diet with a predominant content of synthetic products;
- malabsorption of nutrients and various elements in the intestine;
- dysbacteriosis;
- ingestion of inhibitors of vitamin complexes;
- metabolic pathologies;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- hereditary tendency to hypovitaminosis (problems with the perception or absorption of vitamins);
- period of pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The clinical picture of vitamin deficiency
Unlike some other vitamin complexes, retinol is not able to accumulate in the body, so the lack of its intake becomes noticeable rather quickly. vitamin A develop in humans as the concentration of the element in the body decreases.The most specific clinical manifestations of retinol vitamin deficiency:
- dystrophic phenomena in the rods of the retina, which are responsible for twilight vision (develops "night" blindness);
- the appearance of whitish spots on the conjunctiva of the eye that do not transmit light rays;
- the appearance of softening areas on the cornea of the eye;
- atrophy of sweat and sebaceous glands;
- symptoms of beriberi appear on the skin with dryness, peeling and pathological blanching;
- there is a predisposition to dermatological pustular conditions;
- a drop in immunity with the activation of infections of the respiratory tract, genitourinary system, gastrointestinal tract.
Treatment of beriberi A
Therapeutic measures for vitamin deficiency of retinol should be aimed at the most rapid restoration of its concentration in the human body. Symptomatic treatment is also carried out in parallel, aimed at eliminating the consequences of insufficiency. With a lack of vitamin A, the following measures are taken:- the inclusion in the diet of dairy products, raw carrots, herbs, gooseberries, apricots and currants, sea fish;
- normalization of the diet (small portions 5-6 times a day);
- elimination of the problem of vitamin absorption in the intestine (reception of bifidobacteria or therapy of malabsorption syndrome);
- taking dosage forms of vitamin A for the accelerated relief of beriberi (capsules of 1.5 milligrams or dragees of 1 milligram);
- treatment of infectious pathologies that occur with vitamin A deficiency (pustular skin lesions, respiratory infections, cystitis and urethritis, dyspeptic syndrome, and so on).
To avoid the development of this condition, it is recommended to monitor the presence of foods high in vitamin A in the diet, diagnose gastrointestinal pathologies in a timely manner and treat them effectively.
Independent attempts to identify and eliminate retinol vitamin deficiency can end in failure, so it is recommended to consult a doctor with its symptoms.
Found an error? Select it and press Ctrl + Enter
Rosehip contains a lot of vitamin C
Avitaminosis- a condition known to every person, accompanied by increased fatigue. “There is no strength - it's time to buy multivitamins,” the majority thinks so. A cold winter with colds and flu literally takes away vitamins, as the body needs them to activate its defenses. In the spring, the symptoms of beriberi are most pronounced. And the saddest thing is that, for example, in March and April, there is nothing to eat. All last year's vegetables are devoid of vitamins, and fresh ones grown in greenhouses scare us away with their chemical composition. But do not rush to take artificial vitamins. Many studies have shown that an excess intake of one vitamin can create a deficiency of another. Scientists recommend eating rationally to cover the deficiency of vitamins with food.
Vitamins in spring
Even in March and April there are valuable vitamin-containing plants. Among them: dandelions, nettles, birch leaves, lungwort, needles. If you drink spring teas and make spring salads, beriberi will pass in a couple of weeks 🙂
Decoction of spruce needles: take 20-30 g of needles, rinse in cold water and pour 150 ml of boiled water. Boil in a covered container for 20 minutes, add honey in any proportion, to taste. Drink during the day in 2-3 doses. Especially useful in winter, when the content of ascorbic acid in the needles is the highest. In the spring it is useful to drink an infusion or decoction of young spruce branches and cones. It is a good remedy for scurvy and colds.
An infusion or decoction of birch leaves mixed with other plants or separately helps with beriberi, edema of cardiac origin, stomach cramps. Infusion: 4 tsp leaves insist in 2 cups boiling water for 6 hours. Filter, add honey to taste and drink 2/3 cup 3-4 times a day before meals.
Birch leaves - 30 g, hawthorn leaves and fruits - 30 g each, rose hips - 40 g in the form of an infusion are drunk with physical exhaustion. Infusion: the entire crushed collection is infused for 1-2 hours in 1 liter of boiling water. Filter, add honey to taste and drink 0.5 cups of infusion 3-5 times a day an hour before meals.
nettle leaves- 3 parts, red rowan fruits - 7 parts. Infuse in 2 cups of boiling water for 2 hours. Filter, add honey to taste and take an infusion of 1/2-2/3 cup 3-4 times a day, preferably before meals, with beriberi or exhaustion.
Dioecious nettle leaves - 3 parts, lingonberry fruits - 1 part, rose hips - 3 parts or: nettle leaves - 3 parts, cultural carrot roots - 3 parts, blackcurrant fruits - 1 part, rose hips - 3 parts, or: fruits lingonberries - 2 parts, black currant leaves - 1 part, raspberry leaves - 1 part, rose hips - 1 part. 2 tbsp. l. collection is boiled in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes. Infuse for 3 hours, filter, add honey to taste and drink the infusion 1/2-2/3 cup 3-4 times a day before meals.
Vitamins in winter
In order to say your categorical “no” to beriberi, you need to work hard in the summer and autumn :-). It is necessary to make a vitamin supply of plants every year for the winter. For example, lingonberries are useful in all forms. A good result is given by a mixture prepared from lingonberry juice in half with honey.
Against scurvy, an infusion of rose hips is used, which is exceptionally rich in vitamin C. Take 20 g of dry rose hips, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and boil for 10 minutes in a container with a closed lid, then insist in a dark place for 4-6 hours and strain. Add honey to the broth to taste. Drink 0.5 cup 3 times a day before meals. Store in a cold place for no more than 2 days.
Rose hips - 1 tbsp. l., blackcurrant fruits - 1 tbsp. l. insist in 2 cups of boiling water for 2 hours, filter, add honey to taste and drink the infusion warm 2/3 cup 3-4 times a day, preferably before meals, with beriberi, nervous and physical exhaustion.
The fruits of red mountain ash or lingonberries - 50 g, common rose hips - 50 g insist in 2 cups of boiling water for 2 hours. Filter, add honey to taste and take an infusion of 1/2-2/3 cup 3-4 times a day, preferably before meals, with beriberi or exhaustion.
A decoction of buds or aspen bark: 1 tbsp. l. with the top of the kidneys or aspen bark, pour 0.5 cups of boiling water, boil for 10-15 minutes. Insist 2-3 hours, wrapped. Drink as tea 1 cup 3 times a day, adding honey.
Sequence grass - 10 g, walnut leaves - 5 g, tricolor violet grass - 20 g, large burdock root - 15 g, yarrow flowers - 10 g, black currant leaves - 10 g, wild strawberry leaves - 15 g. Mix everything. Boil 20 g of the collection in 1 liter of water for 10 minutes over low heat. Cool, filter, add honey to taste and drink a decoction of 2/3 cup 3-5 times a day before meals. Children - 1 tbsp. l.
Ingredients: 3 kg of beets, 3 kg of carrots, 2 kg of whole pomegranates, 2 kg of pitted lemons, pass through a meat grinder. Pour the juice into a jar, add 2 kg of buckwheat honey and mix thoroughly. Take a mixture of 50 ml in the morning and evening. The course of treatment is 1 month. After
2-week break, the course can be repeated. This remedy for vitamin deficiency is especially useful in autumn and spring.
Wasting as a result of vitamin deficiency
If there is physical exhaustion, a sharp weight loss, the body does not have enough energy, then you need to use "heavy artillery", take all measures to treat beriberi.
Royal jelly mixed with honey (0.1 g of milk per 10 g of honey) 5 g 2 times a day one hour before meals. The course is 14 days. During the year, you can repeat the reception of royal jelly 3-4 times, especially with obvious exhaustion and overwork in the autumn-winter period, when the risk of colds increases.
Weight loss syndrome (starvation), which caused neuroendocrine disorders (muscle atrophy, menstrual irregularities in women, mental disorders, thyroid function), is treated with honey and pollen: a mixture of 10 g of pollen and 200 g of honey is taken orally for 2 tsp. l. per day for 7-10 days. Gradually increase the dose to 5 tsp. per day with the addition of royal jelly in the form of Apilak tablets (2 tablets per day). After 5 days, increase the dose of Apilac to 3-4 tablets. Further, to the treatment, add bee stings to the interscapular and lumbar zones 2 times a week (up to 3-4 bee stings). Such a complex treatment allows for 1-2 courses to remove the patient from the state of hypotamic emaciation.
Emaciated children who receive honey gain weight faster and develop better. In this regard, it is recommended to give honey to children, taking into account age and diet: 1 tsp. 3 times a day.
We hope that these simple recipes will help you in the treatment of beriberi. A folk proverb says: “Prepare the sleigh in the summer!”. Summer will come soon, do not be too lazy to dry and freeze as many vitamin-containing plants as possible. Thus, you can protect yourself and your family from vitamin deficiency 🙂