B vitamin deficiency

B vitamins are among the most numerous, numbering more than twenty water-soluble substances. Their contribution to the normal functioning of the human body is invaluable. And a deficiency of B vitamins can lead to significant disruptions in its functioning.

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Causes of Vitamin B Deficiency

The main feature of substances related to vitamins of this group is their property not to accumulate in the body, being excreted from it together with urine. This fact puts a person before a choice: either constantly replenish their reserves and feel great, or feel their shortage, which is fraught with the development of various pathologies.

But there is also a feedback loop - the reasons for the lack of B vitamins may be hidden in pathologies and negative influences already present in the patient’s body.

The sources that can cause this deficiency are extensive, but let's remember the most common ones:

• Studies have shown that when people find themselves in a stressful situation, their need for vitamin B1 increases tenfold, while B2, B5, B6 begin to be “processed” by the body in fivefold volume, which, naturally, requires their urgent replenishment.
• In case of pathological damage to the digestive organs (gastritis, colitis), a failure occurs in the process of synthesizing such substances, which also leads to their deficiency.
• Disturbances in the thyroid gland also lead to a pathological clinical picture. This applies to both decreased and increased production of the enzyme. Such a failure leads to a lack of B2.
• Avitaminosis can be a consequence of long-term therapy with some pharmacological drugs. This fact especially concerns sulfonamides, antidepressants, tetracycline antibiotics.
• The reason for the deficiency may be the acidity of the stomach, that is, its insufficiency, which requires the need for additional administration of B3.
• When using hormonal contraceptives as contraceptives, the body begins to require more vitamin B2.
• The processing of the substances in question is also enhanced by increased physical activity.
• The female body experiences a deficiency of substances during pregnancy.
• With inadequate and poorly balanced nutrition.

Symptoms of Vitamin B Deficiency

First of all, it is worth noting the point that is especially worrying for the female population - this is that with a deficiency of substances from the B series, representatives of the fair sex begin to visually observe a loss of attractiveness. In addition, a person begins to suffer from various negative pathologies. Symptoms of a deficiency of vitamins of group B:

• Fatigue appears.
• The person becomes more emotionally unstable, not always responding adequately to various stimuli.
• Sleep disturbances may be observed.
• Toxicosis of the first trimester of pregnancy.

The deficiency of substances in this group can be visually observed in the condition of the skin:

• The epidermal plates begin to peel off.
• Hyperemic spots appear on the face.
• The condition of hair and nails deteriorates, they lose their healthy shine and become more brittle.

With a significant deficiency of vitamins, more complex and dangerous diseases can develop:

• Pathological changes affecting the gastrointestinal tract become aggravated or, on the contrary, begin to develop: gastritis, enterocolitis, ulcerative manifestations, colitis and others.
• Diseases affecting the genitourinary system.
• Severe forms of infectious diseases.
• Atonic constipation.
• Hepatitis.
• Myocardial dystrophy.
• Diabetes mellitus.
• Various neuralgias.
• Radiculitis.
• Uterine bleeding.
• Allergic reaction.

It should be noted that the lack of a specific vitamin has its own symptomatic feature. B1 has its own pharmacological name - thiamine. Even a slight deficiency can cause:

• Increased fatigue.
• Memory problems.
• Increased heart rate.
• Shortness of breath that occurs with even minor exertion or movement.
• Problems with sleep.
• Headaches.
• Nutritional problems.

If the patient's body is exposed to thiamine deficiency for a long time, the person begins to feel:

• Muscle weakness, which leads to unsteady walking and a violation of statics.
• When palpated, pain is felt in the gastrocnemius muscle.
• "Goosebumps" appear in the lower and upper limbs.
• The transmission of implicit impulses, in the formation of which B1 participates, is disrupted.

This disorder is observed quite rarely due to the rapid rate of absorption of vitamin B1.

In pharmacology, B2 is called riboflavin. Even a slight deficiency of it invariably affects a person's appearance and condition:

• Exfoliating facial skin.
• The appearance of cracks in the corners of the lips.
• The eyelids turn red.
• The number of styes that appear is increasing.
• Loss of appetite occurs.
• Deterioration of vision.
• The intensity of hemoglobin production decreases, which can lead to anemia.
• An emotional shift occurs, caused by the emergence of depressive states and irritability.

B3 is called nicotinic acid or niacin in pharmacology. Its deficiency in the human body can cause:

• The occurrence and progression of dermatitis.
• The appearance of a constant background sound in the ears (noise).
• Dizziness.
• There may be a problem with the desire to eat.
• Weakening of the immune system, which leads to frequent acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI).

Nicotinic acid improves blood flow, reduces the level of cholesterol plaques, and has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system. Consequently, when it is lacking, these areas suffer. B4 is designated as choline in pharmacology.

• Its deficiency “hits” the metabolic processes occurring in the liver, and the transportation of enzymes produced by it to the digestive organs is slowed down.
• Memory problems appear.

In pharmacology, B5 is designated by the term pantothenic acid. Its deficiency is quite rare, since B5 is present in small quantities in almost all foods. The main symptom of pantothenic acid deficiency is often manifested numbness of the extremities (both upper and lower). But its significant deficiency can cause severe brain pathologies, significant excess weight, even obesity and mucous diseases.

B6 is also known as pyridoxine. It takes part in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, which include the "happiness enzyme". Therefore, with a lack of pyridoxine, the following is observed:

• Drowsiness.
• An inflammatory process affecting the gum tissue.
• The appearance of a feeling of dryness in the mouth.
• Inhibition, both motor and emotional.
• Irritability may occur.
• Decreased appetite.
• Nausea.
• Loss of sleep.
• Disruption of glycogen and red blood cell synthesis.
• Dermatitis on the face, seborrheic in nature.

When there is a deficiency, the following diseases become aggravated:

• Asthma attacks.
• Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

B7 is known to doctors and pharmacists as a chemical compound called biotin. This substance works to convert fat cells into energy, which is especially valuable for a living organism. Therefore, when its amount decreases below the norm, a failure of fat metabolism occurs. In addition, its long-term deficiency causes:

• Causes the development of skin lesions.
• General weakness, drowsiness.
• Decreased appetite.
• The emergence of a depressive state.
• The appearance of nausea.
• There is a decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood.
• Increased hair loss is observed.
• Decreased vascular and muscle tone, which leads to a drop in blood pressure.
• Symptoms of conjunctivitis appear.
• The nail plates become split and brittle.
• Exacerbation of psoriasis attacks is possible.
• Biotin deficiency can cause disruption of carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism.
• Muscle pain appears.

B8 – this substance is also hidden under the term inositol. In case of its deficiency in the human body, significant changes occur:

• Accumulation of fat cells in the liver.
• Signs of a dermatological nature appear.
• The development of atherosclerosis accelerates.
• Disruption of the musculoskeletal system.
• Structural changes in nerve receptors occur, which leads to psychological problems.

B9 – this substance is known in medical and pharmacological circles as folic acid. If the body does not receive a sufficient amount of this acid, people with such a deficiency begin to feel:

• Significant loss of strength.
• Loss of appetite.
• The white of the eye takes on a yellowish tint.
• Even with minor exertion, shortness of breath appears.
• Anemia begins to develop rapidly.
• Problems with skin and hair appear.
• This substance actively participates in the synthesis of red blood cells, it is simply irreplaceable during the period of development and formation of the fetus. Therefore, its deficiency during pregnancy provokes a slowdown or complete stop in the development of the embryo.
• Irritability.
• Dizziness.
• Pain symptoms in the tongue and abdomen.
• Nausea.

B10 has its own pharmacological name - para-aminobenzoic acid. In case of insufficient intake of B10:

• There is a failure in the process of synthesis of erythrocytes (red blood cells).
• There is a disruption in the functioning of the intestines. The disorder can lead to diarrhea, constipation, flatulence and other manifestations.
• The appearance of signs of anemia.
• Neurasthenia.
• A deficiency of para-aminobenzoic acid is also noticeable on human skin.
• Increased fragility, hair loss and premature graying of hair.
• Headaches.
• Insufficient milk production in a nursing mother.
• Decreased libido.

B11 is a medical term for carnitine. With a carnitine deficiency, the following is observed:

• Decreased muscle tone.
• Rapid fatigue.
• Heart problems.
• Development of liver and kidney dysfunction.
• Slowing down the breakdown of fat cells leads to the appearance of extra pounds and obesity.

B12 is also known as cobalamin. It takes part in the synthesis of erythrocytes - red blood cells. Therefore, its deficiency can provoke:

• The appearance of dandruff.
• Increased fragility of bones and hair.
• The fragility of blood vessels increases.
• Signs of atherosclerosis appear.
• Disorder of the intestines.
• Emotional instability.
• Paresthesia in the legs.
• The appearance of pain in the calf muscles.

Treatment of B vitamin deficiency

Treatment of vitamin B deficiency is mainly carried out in outpatient settings. First of all, to compensate for the lack of nutrients, the diet is adjusted, which must include foods rich in one or another vitamin. Therefore, the more complete and varied a person's diet, the less likely it is to develop vitamin deficiency and a deficiency of a particular substance.

If any circumstances have led to a lack of a certain vitamin, or a disease has worsened, which can be overcome with the help of a certain substance of the vitamin group, then medicinal drugs (analogues of natural vitamins) are prescribed, which more quickly carry out replenishment, and also, in the complex treatment of a specific pathology, support the effectiveness of the effects of drugs of other pharmacological groups.

Vitamin B deficiency medications

The modern pharmaceutical industry has simply "flooded" the shelves of pharmacies with various kinds of synthesized, semi-synthetic and natural vitamins and vitamin-mineral complexes. Therefore, if the problem is not so significant to support the patient's body, the doctor can prescribe such a complex. For example, it can be Materna, Pikovit, Undovit, Vitrum, Benfogamma and many others.

• Materna is a vitamin and mineral complex specially developed for pregnant women or women who are just planning to conceive. The dosage is one tablet once a day. If necessary, this dosage can be adjusted by a doctor.

If a deficiency of a certain substance of the B vitamin series is established, then the doctor prescribes more specific drugs for the deficiency of B vitamins to his patient.

In case of B1 deficiency, such drugs as thiovitamin, thiamine, aneurin, thiamine pyrophosphate will help to effectively replenish its deficiency.

The drug is administered to the patient in various ways. The method to choose is decided only by the attending physician. Depending on the clinical picture, B1 can be administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intravenously or orally.

The daily dosage of this vitamin is determined by both gender and age.

For men, the daily amount of B1 is from 1.2 to 2.1 mg. A woman should receive it within the range of 1.1 to 1.5 mg, while during pregnancy this dosage increases by 0.4 mg, and during lactation by 0.6 mg. Elderly people should consume daily from 1.2 to 1.4 mg of thiamine. For children, the consumed dosage depends on age and falls within the range of 0.3 to 1.5 mg.

Initial parenteral administration should be started with a small dosage and, if adequately tolerated, the administered amount can be increased, the administered dosage of the drug changes depending on the active substance. For example, with a solution of thiamine chloride for adults, 20-50 mg is prescribed, and with the introduction of a solution of thiamine bromide - 30-60 mg once a day.

For children, this ratio is thiamine chloride - 12.5 mg or thiamine bromide - 15 mg.

The duration of the treatment course can range from 10 to 30 days.

At the same time, other medications based on B vitamins can be introduced into the treatment protocol.

In cases where a deficiency of vitamin B2 is detected, in addition to adequate nutrition, the doctor prescribes such drugs as riboflavin, beflavin, lactoben, betavitam, vitamin B2, ribovin, ovoflavin, vitapleks B2, lactoflavin, flavitol, vitaflavin, beflavit, flavaxin.

The drug is administered orally for an adult patient at 5-10 mg per day. If the patient's condition is severe, this dose can be increased and taken at 10 mg three times a day. The duration of treatment is from two weeks to one and a half months.

For small patients, depending on age, the drug is administered in a dosage of 2 to 5 mg, and in severe clinical cases, up to 10 mg per day.

The necessary reasonable daily dosage is for adults - approximately 2.5 mg, for people whose work is associated with heavy physical exertion - up to 3 mg. Newborns from six months to one year - 0.6 mg. For children whose age falls within the range:

• from one to one and a half years - 1.1 mg;
• from one and a half to two - 1.2 mg;
• from two to four - 1.4 mg;
• from four to six - 1.6 mg;
• from six to ten - 1.9 mg;
• from 11 to 13 – 2.3 mg;
• from 14 to 17 (boys) – 2.5 mg;
• from 14 to 17 (girls) – 2.2 mg.

Treatment for vitamin B3 deficiency is reduced to prescribing the drug nicotinamide, the active substance of which is nicotinic acid. Or its analogues pelmin, benicod, nicamid, aminicotin, niacinamide, endobion, nicofort, bepella, niacevit, nicotop.

The drug nicotinamide is administered after meals in a dosage of 15-25 mg for adult patients and 5-10 mg for children. Usually two doses are prescribed during the day.

Nicotinic acid is administered orally in an amount of 50 mg per day.

A healthy body should receive at least 4 g of vitamin B4 daily, in a stressful situation this figure increases to 6 mg. Gliatilin and choline are suitable.

Adult patients are prescribed one capsule per day with food. Duration of treatment is up to a month.

In case of deficiency of pantothenic acid or B5 in the patient's body. The daily requirement of an adult body for this substance is 5 mg, and with heavy physical exertion up to 7 mg. For small children this figure is 2 ml, for schoolchildren - 4 mg.

• Vitamin B6 deficiency is compensated by taking pyridoxine hydrochloride or pyridoxine.

For preventive purposes, the medicine is taken in a daily dosage: adults - 2-5 mg; children - 2 mg.

For medicinal purposes: adults – 20-30 mg once or twice a day; small patients – the dosage is prescribed by the attending physician depending on the child’s body weight.

Pyridoxine in solutions is prescribed subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intravenously: for children - 20 mg per day; for adults - 50-100 mg daily.

The course duration is from two weeks to a month. If necessary, the course can be repeated after a break.

If a vitamin B7 deficiency is detected, a specialist may prescribe a drug such as biotin or its analogues: volvit, femikod, selencin, deakur, beauty, perfectil, medobiotin, vitrum, aleran, imedin.

• Biotin is prescribed two tablets during meals, once a day.

If the studies have shown that the patient suffers from a lack of B8, he begins to receive inositol, inositol. Its daily dosage for an adult is 1-1.5 g. During treatment, the daily dosage is from 0.6 to 2.4 g. The starting amount is 0.6 - 0.8 g, which is gradually increased with normal tolerance of the drug.

In case of vitamin B9 deficiency, the attending physician introduces folic acid or its analogues into the treatment protocol: mamifol, askofol, folacin, foliber.

The starting dose of the drug is 1 mg daily for both children and adults. Subsequently, with normal tolerance, this amount is increased, bringing adults to 5 mg, for children - at the discretion of the attending physician.

Duration of treatment: up to a month.

• When diagnosing a B10 deficiency, the doctor must administer para-aminobenzoic acid to the patient, the dosage of which is 0.1 - 0.5 g three to four times a day. The duration of therapy is 20 days.

In cases where a deficiency of vitamin B11 (carnitine) is detected, medications containing its basic component are prescribed.

The daily requirement for this substance corresponds to figures from 0.3 to 1.5 g, depending on the age of the patient and his need to engage in heavy physical or mental work.

• Carnitine is administered intravenously by drip; in the absence of allergy to the drug, the dose is 5-10 ml of a 10% solution, which is diluted immediately before infusion with 200 ml of a 0.9% sodium chloride solution.

In capsule form, take one twice daily.

The attending physician can treat vitamin B12 deficiency with cyanocobalamin, vibikon, vitamin B12, astamine B12, astavit B12, dankavit B12, cobavit and others.

• Cyanocobalamin is taken as a solution administered intravenously. The prescribed amount of the drug is 0.1 - 0.2 mg once a day. In this case, the drug is taken every other day until remission occurs. If necessary, the dosage of the drug can be changed to daily intake of 0.1 - 0.5 mg. The course of treatment is usually ten days.

Nutrition for Vitamin B Deficiency

Products are the main source of energy, vitamins and minerals that are directly involved in all processes occurring in the body. Therefore, nutrition with a lack of B vitamins should include all those products that can replenish their daily supply. Since each vitamin has its own preferences, therefore, we will consider which foods are the richest in this or that substance.

Vitamin	Products
B1	Meat, offal: brains, kidneys, liver. Whole grain, black bread. Dried fruits. Cereals: brown rice, buckwheat, barley, oatmeal, semolina. Legumes: peas, beans. Nuts. Fresh egg yolk. Butter in small quantities. Sweet pepper, spinach, Brussels sprouts, potatoes. Cod meat. 50% of thiamine is broken down during heat treatment and freezing.
B2	Apricots. Chicken eggs. Meat and offal: kidneys, liver, heart. Nuts. Dairy and fermented milk products: hard cheese, cream, milk, cottage cheese, kefir, butter and others. Mushrooms. Cereal porridges: buckwheat and oatmeal. Rye flour, confectionery and brewer's yeast. Coffee beans, black tea. Spinach, other leafy salad.
B3	Meat: poultry, fatty pork, lamb, veal. Fish. Offal: kidneys, brains, liver (beef), heart. Nuts, best of all hazelnuts and walnuts. Porcini mushrooms. Green vegetables. Greens. Brewer's yeast. Milk. A little less: Cereals: buckwheat, pearl barley. Vegetables: white cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, eggplant, asparagus, carrots, tomatoes, sweet peppers, garlic. Peaches, melon and apricots. Sweets reduce the content of B3 in the human body. Freezing does not affect this vitamin, while heat treatment "leaves" half of B3.
B4	Meat, fish, eggs. Seafood. Fermented milk products, especially cottage cheese. Greens. Legumes. Tomatoes. Various nuts. Decoctions of medicinal herbs: coltsfoot, plantain, St. John's wort, yarrow, chicory, dandelion.
B5	Watermelons. Baker's and brewer's yeast. Fermented milk products. Liver, kidneys, other offal. Whole grain bread, unrefined grain. Dishes made from whole grains. Raw egg yolk. Salad vegetables and green parts of cultivated plants: carrot tops, onions, radishes, horseradish. Green tea. Turkey and fish meat. Royal jelly. Sunflower seeds. Oatmeal.
B6	Meat: rabbit, chicken and lamb. Fish. Yeast and wheat bread. Beef liver. Cod liver. Egg yolk. Nuts: peanuts, walnuts. Raisins. Porridge: pearl barley, wheat, barley. Vegetables: cauliflower and red cabbage, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes. Bakery products made from wholemeal flour.
B7	Beef liver, heart, kidneys. Fresh chicken egg yolk. Oatmeal. Nuts: almonds, peanuts, walnuts. Yeast. Peas and carrots. Rice bran. Orange and apple. Slightly smaller amounts in: Fish. Legumes. Cottage cheese and other fermented milk products. Grapes and plums. White cabbage, cauliflower. Parsley. In unpolished rice.
B8	Legumes. Veal and pork. Nuts. Wheat germ and bran. Wild rice. Fish eggs and fish. Dried fruits. Offal. Whole grains and other whole grain products. Sesame and sesame oil. Black molasses. Brewer's yeast. Vegetables: various cabbages, carrots, onions. Berries and fruits: watermelons, blackberries, grapefruit, gooseberries, citrus fruits, raisins, muskmelon.
B9	All offal: liver, brains (veal), kidneys. Legumes: peas, beans. Egg yolks. Dairy products. Brewer's and baker's yeast. Any cheese: processed, rennet, hard. Fish roe and fish (horse mackerel, tuna, cod, salmon). Porridge: oatmeal, barley, rolled oats, buckwheat, millet. Vegetables: carrots, pumpkin, eggplant, asparagus, cabbage, sweet red pepper, beets, tomatoes, cucumbers, lentils. Fruits and vegetables: bananas, oranges, currants, apricots, strawberries, watermelon, avocado, melon, peach, raspberry, rose hips. Greens: spinach, lettuce, green onions. Nuts: peanuts, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts. Herbal crops: peppermint and lemon mint, yarrow, dandelion, birch, nettle, plantain. Mushrooms. Chicken meat, beef, lamb, pork.
B10	Yeast. Dairy products. Mushrooms. Offal: kidneys, liver. Eggs. Nuts and seeds (sunflower). Bran (wheat, oat, rice) and whole grain products. Vegetables: carrots, leafy greens, potatoes, cabbage.
B11	Poultry, pork, lamb, beef. Fish. Dairy products. Sprouted wheat . Brewer's yeast. But it should be remembered that under the influence of high temperatures, some amount of the vitamin substance is destroyed. Based on this, it is quite difficult to replenish the daily norm of B11 with food alone.
B12	Fish: salmon, herring, sardine, flounder, trout, halibut, cod. Seafood: shrimp, squid, scallops, oysters, crayfish. Meat: chicken, beef. Offal: lungs, liver, brains, heart, kidneys and liver pate. Eggs (raw yolk). Hard cheeses. Soy and seaweed. Dairy and fermented milk products.

Prevention of B vitamin deficiency

Avitominosis, like many diseases and pathological deviations, is much easier to prevent than to deal with their consequences later. Prevention of vitamin B deficiency is voiced by the following recommendations:

• The first and perhaps most important thing is the normalization and balance of the diet. The products that come to a person's table should cover the daily norm of the entire spectrum of vitamins necessary for the healthy functioning of the body.
• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle. No smoking, alcohol and drugs.
• Eliminate hypodynamia. Movement is life.
• When the first signs of vitamin deficiency appear, review your menu and consult a nutritionist or your doctor.
• Undergo periodic preventive courses, drinking vitamin and mineral complexes. This is especially relevant in the spring and autumn period, during postoperative rehabilitation or infectious lesions of the body.

Vitamin B Deficiency Prognosis

Many people believe that the lack of vitamin and mineral complex is an unpleasant, but not fatal fact. Indeed, this deficiency will not lead to a fatal outcome, but ignoring it can provoke the development of more severe and serious diseases. Therefore, the prognosis of a lack of B vitamins, with an irresponsible attitude to your health, can be very ambiguous, with a negative connotation.

But if a person leads a healthy lifestyle, taking care of a well-balanced diet, even with a slight deficiency of one or another vitamin, it will be enough for him to simply slightly adjust his diet and the balance will be easily restored.

If the deficiency of B vitamins is significant and you cannot do without the help of a specialist, you should not ignore this help. Analysis of the clinical picture, prescription of the necessary supporting drugs and prognosis of vitamin therapy are obviously favorable, and a positive result can be observed immediately after the start of therapeutic treatment.

The human body is a complex biological mechanism and for its normal functioning it needs a sufficient amount of various vitamins, since each of them is a valuable link in the overall physio-biological chain. And the lack of B vitamins significantly affects its work, causing malfunctions, which can be fraught with serious complications without taking appropriate measures. First of all, a person himself must take care of his health by analyzing his diet and making adjustments to it. Nutrition should be varied and complete, covering a wide range of different products. But if signs of vitamin deficiency still appear, you should seek help from a qualified specialist who will help with the composition of the diet and, if necessary, prescribe appropriate drugs.

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