Avitaminosis

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Avitaminosis is any disease caused by chronic or long-term vitamin deficiency or caused by a defect in metabolic conversion, such as tryptophan to niacin. They are designated by the same letter as the vitamin.

Conversely hypervitaminosis is the syndrome of symptoms caused by over-retention of fat-soluble vitamins in the body.

[edit] Types

Avitaminoses include

• vitamin A deficiency causes xerophthalmia or night blindness
• thiamine deficiency causes beriberi
• niacin deficiency causes pellagra
• vitamin B12 deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia
• vitamin C deficiency leads to scurvy
• vitamin D deficiency causes rickets
• vitamin K deficiency causes impaired coagulation

[edit] See also

• Essential nutrient
• Illnesses related to poor nutrition
• Vitamin#Human vitamins for more details.
• Orthomolecular medicine