Deficiencies of Micronutrients- How to Overcome Them?

We face deficiency of some or the other micronutrient, they can be cleared by taking proper diet, but some deficiencies are so severe that they take long time to compensate and create severe effects throughout the world.

Here are the predominant deficiencies reported in more than half of the population.

Vitamin A deficiency

• The major effect faced due to vitamin A deficiency is poor eyesight. In medical terms we call it as “Xeropthalmia”, this condition is characterized by night blindness, that is, inability to see things during night time.
• If this condition continues for long time, then it may lead to loss of vision completely, and it also affects growth of children - they have stunted growth.
• This deficiency is mainly found in children who do not take vitamin A foods like carrots, leafy vegetables and some fresh fruits. They face problem of poor eyesight at early stages itself, improper eyesight can have effects on brain also.
• More than half of the population is facing vitamin A deficiency. Apart from dietary deficiency, it is also evident that Zinc and iron deficiency is also linked to vitamin A deficiency. People who have these two minerals deficiency cannot uptake vitamin A properly leading to its deficiency.
• To overcome this, a proper diet containing more of vitamin A is advised for children as well as all adults.

Iron deficiency

• Iron deficiency is linked to anemia (low red blood cells count). This deficiency is prevalent in all age groups. It affects from kids to menopause women.
• Deficiency of iron impairs oxygen carrying capacity of blood, resulting in short breath, sometimes even to death because of difficulty in breathing.
• Blood has nothing to do without iron, as it is the key component of hemoglobin. Apart from oxygen transport, iron is important for pregnant women to give birth to a healthy baby.
• There are many reasons why people face iron deficiency. Children because they do not eat properly, they get deficiency.
• In case of pregnant women, iron requirement if very high, almost double than normal as there is loss of iron along with blood during delivery and also it is important for brain development of fetus, so if pregnant women do not take iron supplements, it results in iron deficiency leading to premature baby, or sometimes death of the fetus may take place.
• Having foods of animal origin will provide more of iron than plant based foods. For pregnant omen, along with dietary sources, supplements are also advised to overcome deficiency of iron.

Iodine deficiency

• Iodine has a major role in thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone. Deficiency of iodine will lead to enlargement of thyroid gland called “Goiter”. In these people, thyroid hormone is not produced in normal levels which result in decreased growth.
• Another effect seen due to iodine deficiency is “cretinism”, it is a condition seen in children where there is no growth of brain leading to mental retardation. These children have low IQ levels compared to normal children.
• Iodine deficiency has severe effects on both mental and physical growth. It also results in hypothyroidism(low thyroid hormone levels).
• Iodine deficiency is severe problem to take care of. This deficiency can be reduced to some extent by taking iodized salts, shrimp, boiled eggs, tuna, etc.

Deficiency micronutrients can be cured through diet, but negligence has long tern effects which have no solution.