Deficiency Symptoms

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS - by Walter Last (source)

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.
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Categories: Eye, Skin, Hair & Nail, Tongue & Mouth
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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, B2, C, B12 (allergy testing)

Dry, hard eyeballs (xerophthalmia) - vitamin A

Farsightedness (hyperopia) - magnesium, potassium, MSM

Glaucoma - magnesium, vitamin C (B2, B1,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, swelling (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, B6, 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, B1, 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 & NAIL DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
Symptom ~ Deficiency / Treatment / Cause

Coarse, brittle hair - zinc

Dandruff - vitamins B2, B6, zinc, magnesium, biotin

Dry hair - vitamin A, zinc

Greying 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 & MOUTH DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
Symptom ~ Deficiency / Treatment / Cause
Mouth problems are often due to amalgam fillings, allergies or Candida infestation (thrush).

Beefy, enlarged tongue - pantothenic acid

Burning, sore tongue - vitamins B2, B6, B12, niacin

Cracked lips & corners of the mouth (cheilosis) - vitamins B2, B6, folic acid

Distended, purplish-blue veins under the tongue - vitamin B2 (circulation poor, congested)

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 tongue - intestinal putrefaction, cleansing

White patches on tongue - vitamin B2 and other B vitamins (allergy)

Yellowish-brown-coated tongue - liver or gall bladder problems

Autoimmune Disease? Polychondritis?

Since my vitamin D (D3) had tested in the normal range, I was clueless about what the problem could be. But the symptoms were severe bone pain, mainly in the cartilage of the rib cage and by now on both sides, intense pain in the throat and whole neck, severely inflamed eyes, the tips of the ears were red and inflamed, thoraccic pain, leg pain, wrist inflammation and the beginnings of arthritis in the hands. I was clueless and back at the hospital I got a referral to a rheumatoid doctor.

The rheumatoid doctor asked weird questions about when I had the most energy - was it the morning?, whether I had fingers that turned white (Raynaud's syndrome)? ... They were weird questions, but eight out of ten questions I answered "yes" to. They were the right questions. He examined my arms, swollen wrists, noting the sensitive forearms and ordered blood testing.

Two weeks later I was back in his office. He was happy to inform me that I had no rheumatoid problems, that the bloodwork came back normal. I did not test positive for Rheumatoid Arthritis or SLE (lupus) and my rheumatoid factor was 7 so I was clearly under the 15 "normal" range. Wow! I had only the strict vegetable diet to credit for that (I learned about lifestyle management at Wildwood Lifestyle Center & Hospital in Georgia), but he was completely intollerant of ANY treatment other than NSAIDS or immunosuppressants for ANY rheumatoid problem ... absolutely not ANY! He did say that he had thought I had strong clinical rheumatoid problems ... but with the bloodwork, no, there was no rheumatoid problem. Goodbye.

I was stunned! He knew all the right questions, and the inflammation was horrible, and that was why I still maintained a strict vegetable diet ... just to cope with life, and really, I was barely coping. [While at Wildwood Lifestyle Center I had met a severe rheumatoid patient and at the end of her intensive 2 weeks of therapy, her RF dropped below 15 too, but that didn't mean she climbed out of the wheelchair! She was able to get up and down a bit but walking around just wasn't an option yet. Our doctor even said that the RF test was a marker test and should not be used strictly for diagnosing disease...]

Possibly Polychondritis?

Via a long chain of emails, a nurse friend thought I should look into Polychondritis, a horrendous autoimmune disease that slowly destroys the cartilage in the chest, nose, ears and throat. I had all the symptoms except with the nose cartilage, where usually early signs of the disease are first apparent. I needed answers so went back to the rheumatoid doctor every two weeks for the next month or two. We did NOT like each other. His diagnoses were based solidly on testing, and he was intollerant to anything beyond what tests scores showed. Some of my symptoms, as I tried to tell him, were definitely reactions to food ... dead end there. However, from the tests coming back negative of any detectable problem, I knew that I didn't as yet have a flaming autoimmune disease, and that there was still hope!

Thank goodness polychondritis was not the problem, for two big reasons: (1) it's a horrible degenerative and painful disease, and (2) I would definitely have to find a doctor in Korea who believed that a controlled diet means a controlled disease ... and not one doctor at the hospital I met, except in the endocrine/diabetes clinic, put much thought in diet controlling disease. [Thank goodness that with the coming of spring I was getting more sunshine, which even at the time, I knew made me feel better, and along with the strict diet I was eliminating some of the big symptoms through time and plodding diligence. I was oh so slowly getting better and the doctor and I both agreed not to see each other again!]

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Months later when my pinky finger on my left hand started twisting from knuckle inflammation, another doctor recommended I go see that rheumatoid doctor again. No, no, no, no flaming way! I upped my studies and searches on diet and health and a couple months after that I was able to pinpoint candida as the problem ... and with a "diagnosis" finally, I was better able to adjust the vegie diet accordingly which, hurray, is the answer!