Symptoms and Causes of Low Vitamin D, E and K

Jan 30, 2012
Wendy A.M. Prosser

Low vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis of the spine - Photograph by Glitzy Queen

For good health, vitamins must be obtained from the diet. This article looks at vitamin D, E and K sources and deficiency symptoms.

Vitamins are essential for good health and the proper functioning of many processes in the body. Deficiency symptoms commonly occur when inadequate amounts are obtained from the diet.

Ergocalciferol and Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D) – Osteoporosis and Other Bone Disorders

The term “vitamin D” covers two forms of this nutrient – ergocalciferol (D2), which is produced by fungi, plants and invertebrate animals, and cholecalciferol (D3), which is produced by vertebrate animals, including humans. In most people, daily vitamin D requirements are met by the synthesis of cholecalciferol in the skin during exposure to the ultraviolet rays in sunlight. However, sunlight exposure – and hence vitamin D3 production – may be inadequate in people who:

live in the far north or south (where there is little sunlight in winter/summer)
do not go outdoors (e.g. due to infirmity)
cover their skin when outdoors.

Among other functions, vitamin D regulates blood levels of calcium and phosphate – the two major components of bone. An adequate amount is therefore critical for the growth and maintenance of healthy bones, and low vitamin D can cause skeletal problems. The principal symptoms of deficiency are:

rickets (softening of the bones in children, leading to severe deformities; still common in developing countries)
osteomalacia (bone softening in adults, causing pain and weakness)
osteoporosis (weakening of the bones, leading to repeated fractures).

The risk of deficiency symptoms may be reduced by eating foods rich in vitamin D (e.g. fatty fish, eggs) or taking a dietary supplement in the form of cod liver oil or D2 or D3 tablets.

Vitamin E – Mixed Tocopherols

Like vitamin B complex, “vitamin E” is not a single nutrient, but a family of several related substances called tocopherols. Its precise functions are not as well understood as those of the other vitamins, though it is thought to act as an antioxidant, removing excess free radicals that would otherwise cause damage to the cells of the body.

Nuts, seeds and vegetable oils are the best dietary sources of tocopherols. Vitamin E deficiency is rare and tends to be seen only in people with a medical condition such as cystic fibrosis or Crohn’s disease that prevents them absorbing fats from their diet.

Vitamin K Sources and Deficiencies

Vitamin K plays a central role in the clotting of the blood after injury, and is also involved in bone growth and maintenance. It is found in the greatest amounts in green, leafy vegetable such as spinach, cabbage and broccoli.

The symptoms of vitamin K deficiency are largely related to its blood coagulation function, and range from easy bruising and heavy menstruation, to excessive bleeding from small wounds, to uncontrollable haemorrhaging. Bone defects can also occur. Most at risk of deficiency are people with liver disease, cystic fibrosis or inflammatory bowel disease, or those taking anticoagulant drugs or certain other medications.

For Good Health, Vitamins are Vital

Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is the best way to obtain adequate amounts of the essential vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K. When this is not possible, dietary supplements can help, though it is advisable to talk to a doctor first, as a vitamin overdose can be as harmful as a vitamin deficiency.