This type of anemia is called pernicious anemia. In developing countries, the cause is usually an absorption disorder. Signs and symptoms of this rare disease include bleeding under the skin and around the gums. Studies show that infants treated with supplemental vitamin E can overcome some degree of anemia and also bring down the immature red blood cell count.15 16, Vitamin E deficiency can cause damage to muscles and nerves, leading to loss of feeling in the arms and legs and sensations such as burning, numbness, or tingling. It is associated with health complications like neurological problems, muscle weakness, bone abnormalities, peripheral neuropathy, hemolytic anemia… Adults can store large amounts of vitamin E in fat tissue, making the deficiency less likely. To ply your body with enough vitamin E, most adults require 15 mg of vitamin E daily as per the recommended daily allowances (RDA) suggested by the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB). Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. If blood tests reveal a vitamin deficiency, your doctor may perform other tests to determine the type and cause, such as: Treatment for vitamin deficiency anemia includes supplements and changes in diet. Why Supplements And Vitamins Aren’t A Cure – Fix The Root Problem Instead! Could anything else be causing my symptoms? However, the most common cause of vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia … However, in some cases, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in treating blood disorders (hematologist). Green vegetables such as broccoli, collard greens, and spinach are good sources too. Infants are especially prone and may, consequently, not gain weight or grow as expected.9 10, Animal studies show that vitamin E deficiency can also affect skin health, leading to problems with collagen metabolism and wound healing and causing skin ulceration. Digestion... © 2020 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, Encouraging the person to eat a few large meals, Offering assistance in actually eating the food. This may happen if: Vitamin C deficiency can develop if you don't get enough vitamin C from the foods you eat. 6 Health Benefits Of Pear Fruit You Should Not Miss On, 6 Health Benefits Of Dried Black Currants, Oolong Tea For Weight Loss: 5 Reasons To Make It Your Cup Of Tea, Cinnamon For Diabetes: A Heady Spice To Control Your Blood Sugar Levels, 10 Home Remedies To Tackle Colic And Soothe Your Baby, Buruli Ulcers: A Look At The Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment Options Of This Disorder, 10 Home Remedies For Swimmer’s Ear: Ways To Cope With This Painful Infection, Can Garlic Help Lower Your Cholesterol? Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. “Ultrastructural and histochemical abnormalities of skeletal muscle in patients with chronic vitamin E deficiency.” Neurology 33, no. Even with a deficiency because of fat malabsorption problems, the effects are more pronounced among infants than in adults.3 But if your body is deprived of vitamin E, it can translate to many health problems, some quite critical. Some infants are born with vitamin E deficiency, which usually improves with age. Vitamin E, like vitamins A, D, and K, is a fat-soluble vitamin, which dissolves in fat and is best absorbed when eaten with some fat. Untreated, vitamin B-12 deficiency can lead to neurological problems, such as persistent tingling in your hands and feet or problems with balance. The link you have selected will take you to a third-party website. However, the most common cause of vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia is a lack of a substance called intrinsic factor, which can be caused when your immune system mistakenly attacks the stomach cells that produce this substance. Vitamin E also requires some amount of fat for efficient absorption and transportation, so a diet with minimal fat intake can also be a trigger. Bethesda (MD): National Center for Biotechnology Information (US); 1998-. A vitamin E deficiency, though rare in developed countries, may result from malnutrition or fat malabsorption. It also has antioxidant properties that help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. What Studies Say, 13 Home Remedies To Fight Rosacea Or Adult Acne, Get Rid Of Your Bra Bulge With These 9 Exercises And Yoga Poses, 4 Different Swimming Strokes And Their Benefits, 8 Yoga Poses For Abs: Moves To Strengthen And Tone Your Core, Yoga For Migraine Relief: 10 Asanas That Can Ease The Pounding Pain In Your Head, Benefits Of Running: Reasons Why We Love This Heart-Pumping Exercise, 10 Exercises To Tackle Rotator Cuff Pain And Keep Your Shoulder Pain-Free, 5 Benefits Of Using Milk In Your Skincare Routine. Vitamin E deficiency may cause impaired reflexes and coordination, difficulty walking, and weak muscles. 5 Health Benefits Of Lemon Verbena That Might Surprise You! Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and what to expect from your doctor. While all the nutrients are biologically active, the human body largely utilizes and retains the alpha-tocopherol version of vitamin E. Vitamin E features prominently in the arsenal of vitamins your body counts on to stay healthy. What's the most likely cause of my symptoms? If you're concerned about getting enough vitamins from the food you eat, ask your doctor whether a multivitamin may be right for you. Allow notifications and you will never miss a thing. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information -, Numbness or tingling in your hands and feet, You have a disease of the small intestine, such as celiac disease, You've had a large part of the small intestine surgically removed or bypassed, You take certain prescription drugs, such as some anti-seizure medications, You've had surgery to your stomach or small intestine, such as gastric bypass surgery, You have abnormal bacterial growth in your small intestine, You have an intestinal disease, such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease, that interferes with absorption of the vitamin. You've ingested a tapeworm from eating contaminated fish. You might have difficulty absorbing folate or folic acid, the synthetic form of folate that's added to foods and supplements, if: Pregnant women and women who are breast-feeding have an increased demand for folate, as do people undergoing dialysis for kidney disease. A deficiency, in turn, results in a weakened immune system, leading to frequent infections and illnesses. Studies confirm that low amounts of nerve tocopherol can cause nerve injury. Vitamin E (tocopherol) is an antioxidant: It protects cells against damage by free radicals, which are by-products of normal cell activity and which participate in chemical reactions within cells. 10 Simple Remedies For Treating A Cut Lip At Home, How To Control Oily Skin: 9 Tips And Natural Remedies, 5 Reasons Safflower Oil Is Great For Your Skin, 5 Harmful Side Effects Of Sunscreen: How To Stay Safe, Get Up On The Right Side Of The Bed Every Morning With Duroflex, 20 Ayurvedic Essentials Herbs That Boost Healthy Body Functions, 6 Reasons Why You Should Grab Rice Bran Oil On Your Next Grocery Run. Last full review/revision Oct 2019| Content last modified Oct 2019. Labazi, Mohamed, Anna K. McNeil, Timothy Kurtz, Taylor C. Lee, Ronald B. Pegg, José Pedro Friedmann Angeli, Marcus Conrad, and Paul L. McNeil. Unmitigated free radical damage can increase your risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataract formation. Disorders that impair fat absorption (such as certain liver disorders, gallbladder disorders, pancreatitis, and cystic fibrosis) can also reduce the absorption of vitamin E and increase the risk of vitamin E deficiency. The goal of providing nutritional support is to increase the amount of muscle tissue (muscle mass) of the person. Abetalipoproteinemia or Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that hampers fat absorption by the intestine and fat transportation by the liver. Vitamin E includes a group of eight fat-soluble nutrients – four tocopherols and four tocotrienols – that occur naturally in many plant foods and are added to some fortified foods. If your diet is lacking in certain vitamins, vitamin deficiency anemia can develop. The bone marrow unsuccessfully tries to replace the lost cells, leading to a lot of immature red blood cells. If you've tried to quit on your own and haven't been successful, talk with your doctor about strategies to help you quit. A diet consistently lacking in these foods can lead to a deficiency. Vitamin E is essential for the development of the nervous system and any deficiency can have adverse effects on it, especially among babies and children. Deficiency. The chances of recovery from ABL, are more often than not, rather poor. On the other hand, the connection between vitamin E and conditions like heart disease or Alzheimer’s disease, though speculated widely, is at best tenuous. Studies show that without vitamin E, a torn cell membrane cannot heal properly. 1 (1985): 32-35. Muller, D. P. R., JuneK Lloyd, and O. H. Wolff. If you have vitamin B-12 deficiency due to other causes, such as vitamin B-12 not being absorbed because of gastric bypass surgery, vitamin B-12 injections also are usually recommended. Other symptoms of ataxia are muscle weakness, tremors and tics, speaking difficulties, and slower reflexes. “Vitamin E and neurological function.” The Lancet 321, no. Non-dietary deficiency is usually connected with health conditions that hamper digestion and absorption of fat. Vitamin E deficiency can cause a form of anemia in which red blood cells rupture ( hemolytic anemia ). Vitamin C deficiency is also possible if something impairs your ability to absorb vitamin C from food. Are there any alternatives to the approach that you're suggesting? A developing fetus that doesn't get enough folate from its mother can develop birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. Intrinsic factor is a protein secreted by the stomach that joins vitamin B-12 in the stomach and moves it through the small intestine to be absorbed by your bloodstream. Terms of use. In most cases, folic acid supplements are taken orally. Vitamin E deficiency can be the result of an underlying condition. Newborns have a relatively low reserve of vitamin E because only small amounts of vitamin E cross the placenta. What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms? If you don't smoke, don't start. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Human studies are needed to confirm this link and the exact cause for it, though.11, Muscle wasting is another repercussion of severe vitamin E deficiency. Not all patients will be deficient in all three. 8318 (1983): 225-228. Why Is My Baby Losing Hair And What Should I Do About It? A very low fat diet may lead to deficiency of vitamins E, A... Vitamin E deficiency caused by a diet low in vitamin E is common in developing countries. Traber, Maret G., Ronald J. Sokol, Steven P. Ringel, Hans E. Neville, Cheryl A. Thellman, and Herbert J. Kayden. The diagnosis of vitamin E deficiency is based on symptoms, the presence of conditions that increase risk, and results of a physical examination. For instance, smoking impairs your body's ability to absorb vitamin C. Certain chronic illnesses, such as cancer or chronic kidney disease, also increase your risk of vitamin C deficiency anemia by affecting the absorption of vitamin C. A number of factors can affect your body's vitamin stores. Growing children (even the picky eaters) and adults, on the other hand, are rarely vulnerable to vitamin E deficiency since they can store large quantities in fat tissue. The bottom line? If you and your doctor consider your taking vitamin B-12 supplements orally, you'll need careful monitoring by your doctor. “Vitamin E and immunity.” Vitamins and hormones 59 (2000): 305-336. Or vitamin deficiency anemia may develop because your body can't properly absorb the nutrients from the foods you eat. We do not control or have responsibility for the content of any third-party site. Muscle imbalances during bone development may cause skeletal abnormalities such as clubfoot, backward or sideways curvature of the spine, or a highly arched foot.