Hypovitaminosis is what? Hypovitaminosis: causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment

In all media there is constantly advertising of vitamins and supplements, in the whole civilized world there is practically no problem of access to products. How can there still be a shortage? And why do we need these substances?

Role

A long time ago, when medicine was much less developed, people noticed that, getting into difficult conditions, for example, in long swimming, in the north, or excluding certain foods from their diet, a person seems to fall ill for nothing. Traditional methods of treatment did not help, and gradually it became clear that the matter is in the diet. And not every food was good for avoiding the disease or treating it, so people came to the conclusion that different types of products contain certain substances. Intuitive understanding was later reinforced by studies of scientists who were able to identify and then synthesize these elements. But more about this later.

Every person who is reasonably fit for his diet knows that it must be balanced. And it's not just about proteins, fats and carbohydrates, but also about the necessary vitamins and trace elements. Of course, you can get them by taking special medications, but it will be much more useful for the body to assimilate them naturally - from food. But what are they for?

Conditionally, each of the vitamins plays a special role. But in fact they are all designed for the normal flow of a huge number of processes. For example, vitamin C has more than 300 biological functions. By the way, it can not be synthesized by the human body.

History of the discovery of vitamins

For a long time, the intuitive understanding that a diet should be diverse was not supported by research. The well-known Russian scientist NI Lunin was one of the first to begin experimenting in this field at the end of the 19th century. He partially fed all the known components of cow's milk, that is, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, salts, sugar, but the animals perished. And then he made a conclusion about the need for certain substances that have not yet been discovered, but are extremely necessary for the life of the organism.

In 1906 this conclusion was made by the English biochemist F. Hopkins, calling these components "accessory food factors". But the last step in the isolation of these substances was carried out by the Pole Kazimir Funk, who received crystals that heal the signs of hypovitaminosis B, at that time he was called beriberi. He called this drug "Vitaymain" (from the Latin word "vita" - "life" and English amine - "amine", nitrogen-containing compound). He also suggested that similar substances can cure diseases such as night blindness, scurvy, pellagra and rickets. And he was not mistaken.

Confession

In the first half of the XX century, almost all the basic vitamins were obtained, and later their chemical structure was deciphered. Other substances were discovered that acted according to the same principles. With the formulation "for the discovery of vitamins" in 1929, Hopkins and Eikman, who studied hypovitaminosis of animals on the example of chickens, received the Nobel Prize. The merits of Lunin and Funk were forgotten for many years.

Nevertheless, further studies have made it possible to identify new substances that are now related to vitamins, and also to understand their functions.

Classification

Today, a lot of vitamins are known, and they are divided into groups. Previously, they were also distinguished for fat and water solubility, but the appearance of a large number of analogues deactuated this classification.

• A: this group of substances includes retinoids, which are part of the main visual pigment. It also stimulates growth and development, provides antioxidant and immune defense of the body. Contained in carrots, pumpkin, fish oil.
• Q: this group includes a very large number of substances that are responsible immediately for many functions. In large quantities is present in the flour of coarse grinding, beans.

• C: there is only one substance here - ascorbic acid. Its intake into the body is possible only from the outside, with food, while the remaining vitamins can be synthesized to some extent. It is with his help that the formation of collagen, serotonin, tryptophan, corticosteroids. It is involved in digesting food, immunomodulating, neutralizing certain substances. This is one of the most important substances in the body, and fortunately it is found in many vegetables and fruits.
• D: A group of substances that form in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet. Provides absorption of calcium and phosphorus, stimulates the synthesis of a number of hormones, regulates cell division, metabolic processes.
• E: vitamins that support reproductive function. In addition, they act as antioxidants and affect the development of muscles. They are effective immunomodulators. Contained in vegetable oils.
• K: in the first place are responsible for blood clotting. In addition, they participate in the work of the kidneys, metabolism in the bone and connective tissues, synthesizes protein structures used in the heart, lungs and other organs. Contained in spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, avocado, kiwi, bananas.
• P: Routine, which is responsible for reducing the fragility and permeability of the capillary walls. Increases the elasticity of red blood cells and has antioxidant properties. Contained in citrus, green tea, sorrel.

Sometimes, vitamins include substances similar to them, working on the same principles and having the same great importance for the body. After all, their deficit translates exactly into the same extremely unpleasant situation. And if it does not change, the result may even be a lethal outcome.

Hypo-, hyper- and beriberi

Any qualified nutritionist or just a sane person knows that to eat better 5-6 times a day, but in small portions, than to eat the same amount of food in one sitting. The same is the case with vitamins - their intake should be as uniform as the extremes threaten with the appearance of problems.

Prefixes hypo-, hyper- and a- mean, respectively, deficiency, excess and total absence of something. This is also true for conditions associated with problems in the intake of vitamins. And although none of these diseases develops in one day, treatment can be quite lengthy and complicated.

Sometimes in everyday life, avitaminosis and hypovitaminosis mean about the same thing - the deficit of vitamins. This is often said in the spring, when for a long time you have to consume canned foods, the poor are useful substances.

Causes

They can be both external and internal. The first is the inadequate intake of vitamins from food. And to the second - a whole complex of problems.

First, it can be an increased need for vitamins. This happens during pregnancy, with high physical exertion, the presence of diseases.

Secondly, their digestibility or mechanisms for their delivery to destination may be impaired. There may also be problems with the transition of vitamins into an active form. Then even enough of their sufficient reception is not the prevention of hypovitaminosis. The organism simply can not digest or use the substances necessary to it.

In turn, the internal causes of hypovitaminosis can be both congenital and acquired due to other diseases. In any case, almost always there is the possibility, if not cure completely, then to compensate for hypovitaminosis as much as possible.

Symptoms of the main types

Obviously, it's not for nothing that the Latin root "life" is in the name of these substances, but their lack does not automatically mean death, everything starts quite innocently. Nevertheless, hypovitaminosis is serious if it is not treated.

As already mentioned, group A participates in the mechanisms of perception of visual information. Its shortage also affects the immunity and skin condition. Fortunately, one of the first signs indicating vitamin A vitamin deficiency are cracks in the corners of the lips - painful and long healing. At this time, one can not yet speak of a danger to health, but the symptom is obvious. If you do not compensate for a painful condition, hypovitaminosis of vitamin A can lead to poor eyesight, especially in the dark - the so-called chicken blindness.

Group B is involved in a huge number of life processes. Their deficiency can lead to depression, skin lesions, intrauterine growth defects, joint pain, digestive disorders, hair loss, impaired attention and memory, anemia and other serious problems.

Lack of ascorbic acid at first looks like a decrease in immunity, frequent ARI. Fatigue and weakness can be felt. In the future, this can lead to nasal bleeding and the appearance of ulcers in the oral cavity - scurvy.

Rickets - lack of vitamin D - is expressed primarily in the sweating, thinning of the hair and in softening the bones due to deterioration in the absorption of calcium. Especially it is dangerous at an early age, as the skeleton can be deformed.

Hypovitaminosis is not a joke. So during seasonal diseases, if you do not have access to fresh vegetables and fruits, with increased physical exertion, you need to think about your health. Prevention of hypovitaminosis is simple. It does not require much time and effort, but it can save you from a huge number of problems.

Prevention and treatment

Even if the causes of hypovitaminosis are unknown, the tactic of getting rid of it is always the same - filling the shortage. Prevention, accordingly, is directed to the fact that it does not arise.

Of course, first of all this is achieved by reviewing the patient's diet. If necessary, the amount of any substances consumed daily increases. If there is no access to the corresponding natural products, they can be replaced by synthesized, that is, medicines. However, excess can also lead to problems, so it's too much to be zealous. Everything should be in moderation - it was known even in antiquity. If there is a hypovitaminosis, the symptoms of which have been ignored for a long time, complex treatment is to be carried out, which will be aimed both at eliminating the deficiency of the necessary substances and at getting rid of the symptoms.

Effects

Hypovitaminosis is a serious disease, no matter what kind of speech it may be. The normal functioning of the body is disrupted, which is exacerbated if the situation remains unchanged. Of course, all this is developing all day, but in severe cases the consequence is one - death. And if its cause is not a deficit of certain vitamins directly, then the diseases caused by their shortage, for sure. It is more terrible to realize that in most cases to prevent the causes of hypovitaminosis and, accordingly, this outcome is very easy. To do this, you just need to eat a lot. And if it's impossible, take multivitamin preparations on time.

About hypervitaminosis

As a rule, it is quite difficult to reach this state. If hypovitaminosis is a more or less common condition, then excess is a rarity. The fact is that usually the body simply displays those substances that are not required. But not always. In order to get an excess of vitamins, you need to eat rich foods, while taking and drugs in large doses. The most common are excess A and D. In hypervitaminosis type A, itching and flaking of the skin, headache, nausea and vomiting are felt. In general, it is like poisoning. Hypervitaminosis D is osteoporosis and calcium deposition in the heart, kidneys, vessel walls. At the initial stage, it is characterized by loss of appetite, headache, digestive disorders.