Vitamin Deficiency Symptoms

by Walter Last

Eye, hair, nail, mouth and skin symptoms are among the early outward warning signs of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. The following compilations may help in diagnosing and treating these deficiencies. However, increased metabolic requirements for indicated deficiencies may persist for a long time after the outward symptoms have disappeared. Many listed symptoms may also be caused or aggravated by allergies and problems with the blood sugar and fat metabolism.

The right-hand column gives the primary deficiencies first, additional treatment or cause is given in parentheses. For each condition only the more prominent nutrients are mentioned. However, all the typical nutrients should be supplied in increased amounts in the treatment of all conditions. Click here for a list of the most popular Health Interests and Product Categories.

Eye-deficiency Symptoms

Symptom	Deficiency / treatment / cause
Bitot's spots - foamy patches on conjunctiva	vitamin A
Bloodshot eyes	boric acid for fungus infection, blue light
Blurred vision	vitamins B2, B₆, pantothenic acid
Bulging eyes	vitamin E, nicotinamide, iodine
Cataracts (lens becomes opaque)	vitamins B₂, C, E, antioxidants (avoid lactose)
Color-blindness	vitamin A
Conjunctivitis	vitamins A, B₂, C (B₆, zinc)
Cross-eyes	vitamins E, C, B1, (allergy testing)
Dark spots in front of the eyes	vitamins B₆, C, zinc (liver problems)
Dim vision (amblyopia)	vitamins B₁, B_2,C, B₁₂ (allergy testing)
Dry, hard eyeballs (xerophthalmia)	vitamin A
Farsightedness (hyperopia)	magnesium, potassium, MSM
Glaucoma	magnesium, vitamin C (B₂, B_1,salt)
Hemorrhaging in the back of the eye (retinitis)	vitamin B₆, zinc, bioflavonoids (also magnesium, vitamins C, B₂, B₁₂, E, pantothenate)
Infected, ulcerating eyes (keratomalacia)	vitamin A (vitamins C, B₂, B₆, zinc, blue light, boric acid)
Itching, burning, watery, sandy eyes	vitamin B₂
Macular degeneration	vitamins A, B₂, B₆, magnesium, zinc, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, esp. lutein & zeaxanthin, ginkgo biloba, bilberry, eyebright, MSM, EFA
Near-sightedness (myopia)	chromium, vitamins C, E, D, calcium (proteins, avoid sugars)
Night blindness (nyctalopia)	vitamins A, (B₂, B₆, zinc)
Red blood vessels in the sclera	vitamin B₂
Retinal detachment	zinc, vitamins B₆, B₂, C, E, A
Sensitive eyes, fear of strong light (photophobia)	vitamins B₂, A
Tics of eyelids	magnesium, vitamins B₂, B₆, zinc

Skin-deficiency Symptoms

Symptom	Deficiency / Treatment / Cause
Acne	vitamins A, E, B₂, B₆, C, niacin, biotin, zinc, EFA*, lecithin, MSM, retinoic acid topically (minimize sweet food & fats)
Addison's disease - adrenal exhaustion: increased tanning, especially on skin-folds, scars, elbows, knees; black freckles	all B vitamins, especially pantothenic acid; vitamin C; all minerals, digestive enzymes, allergy testing, avoid sweet food
Arterial spiders (fine branching arteries on face, neck, chest)	antioxidants, bioflavonoids, glucosamine, cartilage, calcium
Bedsores	vitamins C, E
Blisters	vitamin E
Brown discoloration around small joints	vitamin B₁₂
Brown skin spots	antioxidants (weak liver)
Dry skin	vitamins A, C, EFA
Eczema, skin ulcers	vitamin C, B₂, B₆, zinc, magnesium, EFA, allergy test, cleanse
Eczema, infantile	EPA, zinc, vitamin B₆
Edema	vitamin B₆, zinc (also vitamin C, magnesium, avoid salt)
Fingers white, numb, stiff, swellings (Raynaud's disease)	vitamins B₆, B₁, antioxidants, niacin, magnesium/calcium, EFA
Fungus infections (e.g. athlete's foot, ringworm)	B vitamins, (external tea tree oil, intestinal sanitation)
Gangrene	vitamins C, E, B₁ , magnesium chloride, (urine packs)
Greasy dermatitis around eyes, nose	vitamin B₆, zinc
Greasy skin eruptions (seborrhea)	vitamin B₂
Horny red skin on pressure areas (e.g. knees, elbows)	zinc (vitamin B₆)
Hot flushes	vitamin E, boron, magnesium, calcium (Wild Yam cream)
Ichthyosis (fish-like scales)	vitamin A, retinoic acid topically, MSM
Infant dermatitis with inflamed pustules around body openings	vitamin B₆, zinc
Infections of the skin (boils, cold sores, impetigo, and so on)	vitamins C, A, B₆, zinc, magnesium chloride (hot Epsom-salt packs, tea tree oil or propolis rubs)
Itching	vitamins B, C, EFA, alkalizer, bicarbonate rubs, (allergy tests)
Jaundice	vitamins C, E, A, B₁₂, B_6,lecithin, magnesium, zinc (blue light therapy, treat gall bladder & liver)
Keratosis, horny, goose-pimple-like skin	vitamin A internally & externally
Lemon-yellow skin	vitamin B₁₂
Oily skin, white-heads	vitamin B₂
Over-sensitivity to sunlight	vitamin B₆, zinc, PABA, beta-carotene, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, alkalizers
Pale skin	biotin, folic acid, vitamin B₆, , iron (anemia)
Prickly-heat rash	vitamin C
Psoriasis	as for acne; blue light, sunlight; avoid gluten
Purplish or blue-black skin areas	vitamin C, B₂, bioflavonoids
Rash	allergy test, alkalizers, vitamin C, calcium
Red-brown, often symmetrical discoloration of skin exposed to the sun, later ulceration	niacin or nicotinamide (folic acid)
Red-brown or dark-red spots	manganese
Rosacea (redness of part of face)	vitamin B₂
Scaly dermatitis	biotin
Scaly eczema around nose, ears, scrotum, vulva	vitamin B₂
Scar tissue	vitamin E, MSM externally & internally, camphorated oil rub
Scleroderma (hardening and swelling of skin)	vitamin E, C, A, PABA, MSM, magnesium chloride (zapper, pulser and parasite therapy, tea tree oil packs)
Sensitivity to insect bites	vitamin C, B_1, calcium, alkalizers, bicarbonate rub/bath
Shingles	vitamins B₁₂, C, A, B, E, zinc, lysine, zinc oxide lotion, zapper
Skin cancer	vitamins A, B₆, PABA, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, carotenes, chlorophyll, propolis, zinc (blue light, escharotics)
Skin-folds red, infected	niacin
Stretch-marks	vitamins E, B₆, zinc
Subcutaneous bleeding (red or purplish spots under the skin, bruises easily)	vitamin C, bioflavonoids and rutin, grape seed extract, glucosamine, alkalizer
Swellings (for example, face)	zinc, magnesium, vitamins B₆, B₁₂
Vaginal itching	vitamins B₂, E, C (avoid synthetic underwear, treat Candida)
Warts, moles	vitamins C, A, E
Weals on the skin (urticaria)	vitamin B₆, zinc, vitamin C, (alkalizer, allergy test)
White skin patches (vitiligo)	PABA, pantothenic acid, vitamin B₆, zinc
Wrinkles or aging skin	vitamins C, E, A, EFA, bioflavonoids (too much sun)

* Most skin conditions benefit from external as well as internal application of the indicated nutrients. Retinioc acid is the acid form of vitamin A. EFA means essential fatty acids, mainly linoleic and linolenic acid; recommended are ground-linseed, linseed oil, fish oils and Evening-primrose oil.

Hair and Nail Deficiency Symptoms

Symptom	Deficiency treatment cause
Coarse, brittle hair	zinc
Dandruff	vitamins B₂, B₆, zinc, magnesium, biotin
Dry hair	vitamin A, zinc
Graying hair	folic acid, pantothenic acid, PABA, biotin, minerals (weak adrenals, avoid sweet food)
Hangnails	vitamin C, folic acid, proteins
Hair loss	copper/lead contamination: use zinc, vitamin B₆, sulfur (MSM), selenium, biotin
Nails opaque, white spots/bands	zinc, vitamin B₆
Oily hair	vitamin B₂
Peeling nails	vitamins A, C, calcium
Ridges on nails, longitudinal	vitamin A, protein, calcium (anemia, poor circulation, thyroid/parathyroid glands)
Ridges on nails, transverse	fever, infection, inflammation, menstrual problems, period of protein deficiency
Scaling of cuticle or lips	biotin

With graying hair or hair loss improve the circulation to the scalp, e.g. daily inversion such as headstand, shoulder-stand, hanging upside down or using a slant-board. Also vigorously rubbing nourishing or slightly irritating solutions into the scalp, e.g. fresh grass or vegetable juice, MSM with copper salicylate, ginger juice.

Tongue and Mouth Deficiency Symptoms

Mouth problems are often due to amalgam fillings, allergies or Candida infestation (thrush). See our Oral Care products for all natural oral care at discount prices.

Symptom	Deficiency treatment cause
Beefy, enlarged tongue	pantothenic acid
Burning, sore tongue/span>	vitamins B₂, B₆, B₁₂, niacin
Cracked lips & corners of the mouth (cheilosis)	vitamins Bsub>2, B₆₆, folic acid
Distended, purplish-blue veins under the tongue	vitamin B₂
Edema or tooth-marks on tongue	niacin/nicotinamide
Furrowed tongue	vitamin B₁, pantothenic acid
Gums receding, bleeding (gingivitis)	vitamin C, bioflavonoids, calcium, alkalizers
Halitosis (bad breath)	vitamin B₆, zinc, magnesium, propolis, chlorophyll (cleansing, intestinal sanitation)
Mouth ulcers, canker	folic acid, vitamin B₆, zinc (alkalize, allergy test)
Papillae prominent or erased	niacin/nicotinamide
Purplish or magenta tongue or lips, also veins under the tongue	vitamin B₂
Tongue red at tip or edges; severe deficiency: whole tongue scarlet red, sore	niacin (vitamin B₆)
Tongue shiny, smooth, beefy; early sign: strawberry-red tip/sides	vitamin B₁₂, folic acid
Tongue too small or too large	niacin, pantothenic acid
White-coated tonguee	intestinal putrefaction, cleansing
White patches on tongue	vitamin B₂and other B vitamins (allergy)
Yellowish-brown-coated tongue	liver or gall bladder problems