deficiency disorders

Boost your immunity and maintain good health

Dr Falguni Parikh

Consultant Internal Medicine

Immunity

• Capacity of the body to keep infections at bay

• Occasional breakdown of defense system leading to illness

• Age and immunity

Biological

Micronutrient malnutrition

• Lifestyle diseases

• Deficiency diseases

• Infectious diseases

• Age related diseases cataract,prostate,hearing disorders,cognitive decline

Prevention

• Non infectious diseases/lifestyle diseases

• Deficiency diseases

Infectious diseases

Lifestyle and diseases

Lifestyle changes

Vitamin B12

• Red blood cell production

• Functioning of nervous system

• Immune system

• Memory and concentration

• Deficiency very widespread

• Specially amongst vegetarians

Manifestations of B12 deficiency

• Weakness, tiredness

• Irritability

• Depression

• Tingling and numbness in hands and feet

• Palpitations and dizziness

Treatment

• Failure to treat can cause anemia, neuropathy and dementia

• Early recognition and prompt treatment has good prognosis

• Oral supplementation/intravenous

• Diet mainly non vegetarian like meat, poultry and dairy products

Folic acid

• Pre conception in all females

• Development of spine and brain of fetus

• Megaloblastic anemia

Vitamin D

• Helps in calcium absorption and maintenance of calcium-phosphorus balance

• Rickets and osteomalacia.• Osteoporosis - increased fracture risk• Bones and joints• Deficiency co exists with many diseases• Sunscreens prevent absorption

Vitamin D deficiency

• Poor growth in children

• Teeth deformities

• Muscle aches and cramps

• Bone pain

• Spinal deformities and posture abnormalities

Management of vitamin D deficiency

• Oral vitamin D replacement or intramuscular injections

• Sunlight

Food sources -

• Milk and milk products

• Codliver oil,eggs,fish

Iron deficiency

Clinical features of Iron Deficiency

Treatment of Iron Deficiency

Vitamin A

• Needed for healthy teeth, bones, skin and tissues

• Needed for good vision

• deficiency causes Night blindness

Vitamin C

• For tissue wear and tear

• Teeth,bones,cartilage

• Antioxidant

• Cancer,heart disease

• Needs to be supplemented

• Scurvy,bleeding gums,decreased immunity,joint pains

Vitamin E

• Free radical scavenger

• Protects from ill effects of free radicals on cells and tissues

• To be taken with doctors advice

Vitamin K

• Necessary for blood clotting

• Deficiency causes bleeding disorders

• Liver disease, drugs.

Preventing infections

Common infections

• Viral infections - influenza• Pneumonia• Mosquito borne diseases like Malaria, Dengue• Food and water borne diseases like

Typhoid fever and hepatitis• Tuberculosis • Prevention by vaccines

Prevention is the key

• Regular physician visits

• Evaluation of baseline data- Age ,risk factors, BP monitoring,sugar,lipid profile

• Lifestyle changes

• Vaccines

• Medications

Thank you