Signs and Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiency

Area

Symptom or Sign

Deficiency

Ears

Excess ear wax

Low essential fatty acids (EFA)

Eyes

Impaired night vision

corneal drying &  clouding

intraocular hemorrhage

angular blepharitis

Dark circles under eyes

Floaters

Cataracts

Bags or dark rings under eyes

Poor vision or night blindness

Sensitivity to light

Dry eyes

Vitamin A

Vitamin A

Ascorbic acid

riboflavin, niacin

Low levels of quercetin, vitamin C

Deficiencies in vit K, vit C, and bioflavonoids

chromium deficiency or excess free radicals

allergies or food intolerances

zinc and vitamin A

magnesium

vitamin A

Face

Acne

greasy red scaly skin of face and sides of nose

Zinc, EFA & Vit A. Decreased stomach acid

vitamin B2

Gums

Pyorrhoea

Bleeding gums

pale spongy, receding, swelling

CoQ 10

vitamin C

Iron,  ascorbic acid

Hair

Spare & thin

Easy to pull out

Corkscrew or Coiled hair

Dry hair

Premature graying

Dandruff

 Thinning or loss of hair 

Protein, zinc, biotin

Protein

Vitamin C & Vitamin A

Essential fatty acid (EFA)

Selenium, Pantothenic acid

EFA, antioxidants (selenium especially), B6 or B-complex. May also indicate low stomach acid.

Protein, kelp, Folate, B5, B6, B-complex, Vit A toxicity or other environmental toxicity also causes; iron stores (must measure serum ferritin), biotin, zinc and essential fatty acid

Heart

any problem with the heart, including irregular beat, high blood pressure, cardiomegaly

magnesium and CoQ10 deficiencies and sensitivity to caffeine

 Legs

tender calf muscles

brisk knee reflexes

Magnesium

magnesium

 Hands

Skin cracking at tips

Cold hands

zinc, vitamin E, or EFA

Magnesium deficiency, EFA, niacin (B3), vitamin E, B12 or iron. May be from anemia or Raynaud’s syndrome.   

Mouth

Glossitis

Bleeding & spongy gums

Sore mouth & tongue

cracked lips

Cracks at corners of the mouth

Riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, B12

Vitamins C, A, K, folic acid & niacin

Vitamin A, B12, B-complex, folic acid & niacin

Vitamin  B2, B6, B12, niacin ,folic acid & iron

Deficiencies in B2 (riboflavin) or B-complex

Nails

Flat angle / spooning

Cuticle inflammation

Ridging

White spots

Ridges

Hang nails

soft or brittle nails

bitten nails

Iron

Zinc

Decreased minerals; decreased stomach acid

Zinc

Zinc

Zinc

Magnesium

General mineral deficiency

Neck

Skin tags around neck, arms and back

Glucose intolerance or reactive insulin levels.  May be a signs of blood sugar regulation problems.  

Skin

Purpura

Dry skin

Slow wound healing

Easy bruising

stretch marks

spontaneous bleeds

follicular hyperkeratosis 

Vitamin K

EFA, vitamin A or vitamin E

Vitamin A, vitamin C, zinc or EFA.  Diabetes may also be the cause

Vitamin K, C, E, or bioflavonoids

Zinc

Vitamins C or K (or platelet deficiency)

vitamin A 

Teeth

Caries

Tooth decay

Bleeding gums

Fluoride

B6, minerals (especially silica, calcium, boron)

Vitamin C and bioflavanoids

Throat

thyroid swelling

Iodine

Tongue

Sore tongue (glossitis)

pale fissured tongue

scarlet, raw tongue

slick tongue

swollen tongue with lateral teeth indentations

painful sore tongue

Vitamin B2, B3,  B12, folate, zinc or iron

Low iron levels

Niacin

Riboflavin

Folic acid, cobalamin, iron, niacin, riboflavin

 Folic acid

Miscellaneous

Arthritis

Can't remember dreams

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Diuretic use

Muscle spasms/cramps

Persistent infections

Poor healing

Poor sense of smell/taste

Shaking hands

Boron and sulphur (MSM)

Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6

Many cause magnesium & potassium

Magnesium

Vitamin C and zinc

Zinc

Zinc

Magnesium and vitamin B1