Key signs and symptoms of vitamin deficiency anemia?

The human body needs vitamins and nutrients which are found in most foods. Healthy nutrition is required for many purposes, including producing fit red blood cells. When the body is underprovided in certain key vitamins, a type of anemia called vitamin deficiency anemia can develop.

Anemia, also spelled anaemia and anæmia, comes from Ancient Greek αvαιμία anaimia, meaning lack of blood. It is a decrease in the normal number of red blood cells (RBCs) or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. In vitamin deficiency anemia, the body does not make enough red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. Anemia leads to hypoxia which is a lack of oxygen in organs. Because all human cells depend on oxygen for survival, varying degrees of anemia can have a wide range of clinical consequences.

Vitamin deficiency anemia reduces the number of healthy red blood cells; as a result the body cannot get all the oxygen it needs to feel energized. This can also lead to other health problems, such as memory difficulties and tingling in hands and feet.

Vitamin deficiency anemia can usually be corrected with supplements and changes in diet.

What are the signs and symptoms of vitamin deficiency anemia?

The patient feels and describes a symptom, while other people, including the physician or nurse detect a sign. For example, headache may be a symptom while dilated pupils may be a sign.

Anemia goes undetected in many people, and symptoms can be minor or vague. The signs and symptoms can be related to the anemia itself, or the underlying cause. Most commonly, people with anemia report non-specific symptoms of a feeling of weakness, or fatigue, general malaise and sometimes poor concentration.

Vitamin deficiency anemia can result in:

* Diarrhea
* Fatigue
* Irritability
* Mental confusion or forgetfulness
* Muscle weakness
* Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
* Pale or yellowish skin
* Sore mouth and tongue
* Trembling movements
* Weight loss

Vitamin deficiencies usually develop slowly, over several months to years. Vitamin deficiency symptoms may be subtle at first, but they tend to increase as the deficiency worsens.

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