What are the causes and consequences of a biofactor deficiency?

symptoms of the musculoskeletal system

• bone metabolism disorders, increased risk of osteoporosis
• rickets
• osteomalacia
• back pain
• muscle cramps, muscle tremors
• stretching cramps of the fingers (“paw position”)

skin, hair and nail disorders

• nail brittleness
• skin and hair changes

various other symptoms

• tendency to bleed
• heart and circulatory problems
• cataracts
• tooth decay, periodontal disease
• digestive disorders
• mental disorders, depression

iron deficiency symptoms

latent iron deficiency

• pale skin and mucous membranes
• tiredness, weakness, reduced performance
• concentration problems
• dizziness, headaches
• palpitations, shortness of breath, shortness of breath during physical exertion
• Inappetence, gastrointestinal disorders
• mouth rhagades
• disorders of thermoregulation: feeling cold
• increased susceptibility to infections
• iron deficiency anemia

symptoms as with latent iron deficiency

• glossitis
• skin dryness
• brittle, split hair and hair loss
• nail brittleness

iron deficiency during and after pregnancy

• increased risk of premature births and miscarriages, reduced birth weight and mortality in mother and child
• increased risk of growth disorders, neurological and cognitive deficits and physical developmental disorders in infants and children

• tiredness, listlessness, increased need for sleep
• learning and concentration disorders
• increased sensitivity to cold
• weight gain
• feeling of tightness and pressure in the throat, increased neck circumference, breathing and swallowing difficulties
• skin changes: scaly, dry skin
• hair loss
• menstrual disorders: heavy and irregular bleeding
• pregnancy complications
• severe tiredness and developmental disorders in children

symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract

• nausea and loss of appetite
• intestinal sluggishness, constipation up to intestinal obstruction

symptoms of the musculoskeletal system

• muscle weakness, muscle tremors and cramps, muscle pain
• signs of paralysis or tingling in the limbs

Various other symptoms

• tiredness and fatigue
• headaches
• dizziness and visual disturbances
• dark circles under the eyes
• heart palpitations
• circulatory problems

unspecific symptoms

• weakness, fatigue, reduced performance
• sleep disorders
• reduced stress tolerance
• lack of concentration, confusion
• chronic fatigue syndrome

neuromuscular symptoms

• hyperreflexia, muscle cramps, muscle spasms, muscle weakness
• neck and back pain
• magnesium deficiency tetany
• nystagmus

symptoms of the nervous system

• nervousness, restlessness, overexcitability
• headaches, migraines, dizziness
• confusion. Disorientation, reduced memory performance
• depression, aggression
• anxiety disorders and psychoses
• seizures, numbness, tingling, ataxia
• hyperalgesia

symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract

• nausea
• constipation
• spasms

cardiovascular symptoms

• hypertension
• cardiac arrhythmias: ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, torsade de pointes
• arteriosclerosis
• coronary spasms
• reduced myocardial pump function
• eIectrolyte imbalances

metabolic disorders

• hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, sodium retention
• increased risk of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and reduced glucose tolerance
• impaired formation of active vitamin D, vitamin D resistance
• impaired parathyroid hormone release, PTH resistance
• hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia

symptoms in the gynecological area

• premature labor, tendency to miscarry
• (pre-) eclampsia
• growth retardation of the fetus
• dysmenorrhea

various other symptoms

• increased tendency to asthma
• increased risk of osteoporosis
• tendency to calcium oxalate kidney stones and calcification of soft tissue

mild selenium deficiency

• white spots on the nails
• thin hair and hair loss

severe selenium deficiency

• listlessness
• impaired thyroid function
• fertility problems in men
• increased susceptibility to infections
• weight loss
• intestinal sluggishness
• headaches
• memory problems
• sleep disorders
• joint pain
• myopathies

mild zinc deficiency

• reduced testosterone levels (oligospermia)
• reduced activity of the T helper cells
• reduced thymulin activity
• hyperammonemia
• reduced sense of smell and taste
• reduced night vision

moderate zinc deficiency

• growth retardation
• hypogonadism in male adolescents
• rough skin, skin inflammation
• appetite disorders
• mental lethargy
• delayed wound healing
• cell-mediated disorders of the immune system
• neurosensory disorders

severe zinc deficiency

• bullous pustular dermatitis
• alopecia
• diarrhea
• emotional disorders
• weight loss
• frequent infections due to cell-mediated disorders of the immune system
• hypogonadism in men
• poorly healing ulcers

Acrodermatitis enteropathica (genetic absorption disorder)

• symmetrical skin rashes on the acra, head and orifices (mouth, nose, anal region)
• scaly erythema, vesicles, pustules, crusts, paronychia
• sharp distinction between healthy and diseased skin
• mucosal changes: gingivitis, stomatitis, glossitis
• alopecia on the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes
• growth retardation
• digestive tract: chronic recurrent diarrhea, anorexia
• increased susceptibility to infections
• wound healing disorders
• nervous system disorders, mental retardation, irritability

• keratinization of the skin and mucous membranes in the respiratory, digestive and urinary tracts
• impaired dark vision, night blindness
• corneal ulcers
• keratomalacia
• reduced sense of smell and taste
• hearing impairment
• increased susceptibility to infections
• disturbance of sperm cell production
• dry skin, acne
• growth disorders in children

symptoms of the musculoskeletal system

• Rickets in infants and young children
• Osteomalacia in adults
• Increased risk of osteoporosis
• neuromuscular hyperexcitability (tetany) due to calcium deficiency: muscle cramps and muscle weakness, extensor cramps of the fingers
• Immune deficiency disorders and increased susceptibility to infections

A connection between vitamin D deficiency and the following illnesses is being discussed, even if the study situation is not congruent

• depression
• cancer
• cardiovascular diseases: Heart attack, stroke
• respiratory diseases such as asthma
• type 2 diabetes
• autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes and crohn's disease

• tiredness, poor performance, concentration problems
• dry, wrinkled skin, poorly healing wounds
• increased susceptibility to infections, weak immune system
• circulatory disorders in arms/legs, later in heart/brain
• tremor, impaired reflexes, neuritis
• muscle weakness and muscle pain
• irritability, reduced sensitivity
• mental retardation, dystrophy
• retinopathy
• increased risk of arteriosclerosis
• vitamin E deficiency ataxia: genetic neurodegenerative disease (combination of vitamin E deficiency and ataxia)

• bleeding of the skin and mucous membranes
• increased bone fragility

neurological symptoms

peripheral nervous system

• peripheral neuropathies with sensory disturbances: Tingling, burning and numbness, especially in the feet
• neuropathic pain

Increased risk in diabetics with development of diabetic neuropathy and diabetic foot syndrome.

central nervous system

• toxic cerebellar cell damage > ataxia
• toxic midbrain damage > Wernicke's encephalopathy: delirium, ataxia, ophthalmoplegia
• neurotransmitter disorder > Korsakov psychosis: amnesia, confabulations, adynamia
• damage to cortical and limbic neurons > (Alzheimer's) dementia

cerebral disorders

• dizziness
• gait instability
• disorders of consciousness

cardiovascular disorders

• cardiac arrhythmias
• cardiac insufficiency

gastrointestinal disorders

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• Muscle pain, muscle cramps

Wernicke-Korsakow syndrome under alcohol abuse

• pupil disorders, nystagmus, eye muscle paralysis
• cerebellar ataxia
• clouding of consciousness
• coma

• cheilosis and glossitis
• cracks in the skin, rhagades at the corners of the mouth
• reddening of the skin, scaly eczema
• nerve inflammation on hands and feet
• photophobia, burning eyes, increased risk of cataracts
• anemia

mild vitamin B6 deficiency

• non-specific symptoms: insomnia, fatigue, irritability, sadness, anxiety
• acne
• sensitivity to light
• gastrointestinal disorders: Inappetence, diarrhea and vomiting
• cheilosis and glossitis
• susceptibility to infections
• growth disorders
• increased menstrual cramps in women

chronic vitamin B6 deficiency

• scaly skin rashes and skin inflammation on the face and scalp
• functional disorders of the liver 
• microcytic, hypochromic anemia
• neurological disorders: Numbness in the limbs, confusion, degeneration of the peripheral nerves with paralysis and afferent ataxia
• in infants: Tremors and convulsions
• utilization disorders of magnesium, calcium and iron

mild vitamin B12 deficiency

• tiredness and exhaustion
• concentration problems
• sleep disorders
• poor performance and memory, confusion
• frequent low moods
• dizziness
• numbness in the hands or feet
• tingling in arms and legs
• loss of appetite
• burning sensation on the tongue, rhagades at the corners of the mouth

severe vitamin B12 deficiency

• hematological diseases, mostly anemia, e.g. pernicious myelosis with typical anemia symptoms
• funicular myelosis: Degeneration of the posterior and lateral cords and development of polyneuropathy - paraesthesia, sensory disorders such as constriction or cuffing sensation in the lower legs and ankles, depth sensitivity disorders, unsteady gait and stance (ataxia) with central muscle weakness, increased tendency to fall and paralysis
• attention deficit disorders
• stupor, psychoses, hallucinations, burnout syndrome
• depression
• dementia
• cardiovascular diseases

vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy

• delay in fetal development
• neurological/haematological symptoms in infants:

1. neurological: irritability, apathy, inappetence, vomiting, lemon-yellow skin, developmental disorders
2. hematological: megaloblastic anemia and pancytopenia

mild folic acid deficiency

• fatigue and depressive moods
• hair loss
• inappetence and diarrhea
• immune defense disorders

manifest folic acid deficiency 

• megaloblastic, hyperchromic anemia
• embryonic malformations: neural tube defects with malformations of the spinal cord and brain, increased risk of developing congenital heart defects, premature births and other pregnancy complications
• neurological symptoms: polyneuropathy, psychological complaints
• mucosal changes in the oral cavity and intestines
• cell changes in the vagina and cervix
• hyperhomocysteinemia - in combination with vitamin B6/B12 deficiency - and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, depression or Alzheimer's dementia

unspecific symptoms

• fatigue, exhaustion
• insomnia
• headaches
• poor wound healing
• muscle weakness
• heart palpitations

neurological disorders

• burning skin sensations (“burning feet syndrome”) and paresthesia of the extremities
• cramps and reflex disorders
• depression

symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract

• inappetence, weight loss
• vomiting
• constipation

unspecific symptoms

• exhaustion
• poor performance
• cognitive complaints
• mental instability

symptoms skin, hair, nails

• dry skin, itchy rashes, scaly dermatitis, seborrhea
• alopecia, brittle and thin hair
• brittle fingernails 

symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract

• inappetence
• nausea
• vomiting

neurological symptoms

• depressive moods
• lethargy
• hyperesthesia
• paresthesias
• hallucinations
• ataxia

various other symptoms

• oral rhagades
• conjunctivitis
• fatty liver
• muscle pain and muscle cramps
• anemia

• physical and mental weakness, fatigue
• concentration problems
• insomnia
• headaches, dizziness
• nervousness, irritability
• loss of appetite, digestive disorders: nausea and vomiting
• rough skin
• changes to sun-exposed skin areas
• inflammation of the oral mucosa

• tiredness, exhaustion, irritability
• increased susceptibility to infections, immunodeficiency
• delayed wound healing
• muscle and joint pain
• reduced ability to form collagen
• oedema
• bleeding of the mucous membranes
• bleeding and inflammation of the gums, loose teeth, tooth loss