A healthy diet can provide all a growing body needs, but the reality of our busy lifestyles and sometimes finicky eating habits can lead to vitamin deficiency. Knowing what to look for is part of the battle. In this article, we’ll try to help you detect nutritional deficiencies. Also, note that symptoms are actually better indicators of nutritional deficiency than signs (In medicine a sign is objective while a symptom is subjective).
Hands
Cold hands: magnesium deficiency, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue with low cardiac output
Nails
White spots: mineral deficiency but often low zinc
Ridges: zinc deficiency
Soft or brittle nails: magnesium deficiency
Bitten nails: general mineral deficiency
Skin
Stretch marks: zinc deficiency
Follicular hyperkeratosis: vitamin A deficiency (picture below)
Spontaneous bleeds: vitamins C or K or platelet deficiency
Dry scaly skin with hair follicles plugged with coiled distorted hairs and a red halo: vitamin C deficiency
Yellow palms: excessive beta carotene intake
Pimply rough skin at the back of the upper arms “chicken skin”: essential fatty acid deficiency
Mouth
Pale fissured tongue: iron deficiency
Sore painful fissured tongue: vitamin B3 deficiency
Sore burning tongue and lips and peeling of lips: vitamin B2 deficiency
Swollen tongue with lateral teeth indentations: food intolerance
Painful sore tongue with a smooth appearance: folic acid deficiency
Cracked lips: vitamin B2 deficiency, thrush
Sking of face
Greasy red scaly skin of face and sides of nose: vitamin B2 deficiency
Seborrheic dermatitis around nose and an acne like forehead rash: vitamin B6 deficiency
Eyes
Cataracts: chromium deficiency or excess free radicals
Bags or dark rings under eyes: allergies or food intolerances
Blue eyes and blond hair are often found in hyperactive male children: zinc magnesium, B6 and essential fatty acids deficiencies
Blue eyes and premature grey hair – vitamin B12 deficiency: a feature of pernicious anemia
Throat
Thyroid swelling: iodine deficiency, hypothyroidism
Heart
Any problem with the heart, including irregular beat, high blood pressure, cardiomegaly: magnesium and Co-Q-10 deficiencies and sensitivity to caffeine.
Legs
Tender calf muscles: magnesium deficiency
Brisk knee reflexes: magnesium deficiency
The following problems can suggest particular deficiencies or allergies:
Nasal polyps: salicylate sensitivity
