Nutritional Deficiencies Flashcards
2 indirect lab measurements
- Pyridoxal 5-PO4 to assess B6
* Homocysteine and methylmalonic acid are upregulated w/ B12 deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency
Cause
Problems
- Deficiency mainly occurs in fat malabsorption
- Primarily affects the eyes
- Night blindness is initial sign
- Xerophthalmia – drying of conjunctiva / cornea
- Bitot’s spots – abnormal squamous cell proliferation and keratinization of conjunctiva caused by xerosis (drying of conjunctiva)
- Blindness may occur due to progressive corneal xerosis and keratomalacia (degeneration of cornea) → corneal clouding
- Skin – dry skin, flaky dermatitis, follicular hyperplasia
Thiamine deficiency
Which vitamin?
Associated w/ what?
Problems
Vitamin B1
•Deficiency mainly occurs in alcoholics
•Dry Beriberi: peripheral neuropathy (sensory and motor; wrist / foot drop, ataxia, paresthesia) and angular stomatitis.
•Wet Beriberi: neuropathy + cardiomyopathy and CHF
•Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
• Wernicke’s encephalopathy is acute: confusion / delirium, disturbance in eye movement (nystagmus / ophthalmoplegia), ataxia, tremors
• Korsakoff’s psychosis is chronic: severe short-term memory impairment and confabulation.
Niacin deficiency
Which vitamin?
Cause
Problems
- Vit B3
- Deficiency occurs w/ diets low in niacin and tryptophan, such as corn-based diets.
- Starts w/ weakness, anorexia, and indigestion, followed by the 4 D’s.
- Pellagra (4 D’s)
- Dermatitis on sun-exposed areas. Begins as erythema w/ itching / burning. Blebs → bullae → burst. Later the skin becomes hard, rough, cracked, blackish, and brittle.
- Diarrhea (also dysphagia / inflammation of mouth; tongue may be red / smooth / edematous).
- Dementia (if untreated)
- Death
Folate deficiency
Clues / problems (6)
Macrocytic anemia, cheilosis (lip fissures), sore tongue, diarrhea, depression, neural tube defects
B12 Deficiency
Population
Problems (5)
- Classically seen in vegans and pxs w/ pernicious anemia.
* Causes neuro effects (mainly sensory), cheilosis, anorexia, diarrhea, and depression
Vit C deficiency Cause Molecular problem Problems / signs (8) 1st sign / sx
- Occurs w/ severe malnutrition and lack of fruits / veggies
- Impairs collagen synthesis
- Causes swollen / bleeding gums, perifollicular petechiae, bruising, hyperkeratosis, coiled hair, joint pain, poor wound healing, and fatigue.
- Gums may be blue / red. Normal gums in areas w/o teeth.
- 1st sign is usually perifollicular petechiae. 1st symptom is usually fatigue.
Vitamin D deficiency
Cause
2 age counterparts
- Occurs due to fat malabsorption and north
- Rickets in kids – Hypertrophy of chondrocytes and defective mineralization at growth plate causes short stature, enlarged joints / skull
- Osteomalacia in adults - impaired mineralization of bone matrix causes bone pain and muscle weakness
3 signs of iron deficiency
Microcytic anemia, atrophic glossitis, and spoon nails (koilonychia)
What level of Ca is considered deficient?
Less than 1000-1200 mg/day
Acute problems of Ca deficiency
Muscle cramps / tetany
2 things that cause poor wound healing
Low Vit C and zinc
What causes flaky dermatitis?
Vit A
What 2 things cause follicular hyperplasia?
Vit A and C
What 2 things cause easy bruising?
Vit C and K
What causes sun-exposed dermatitis
Niacin
What causes abnormal eye movements?
Thiamine (B1)
What causes a magenta tongue?
Riboflavin (B2)
