Avitamiin

Avitamiin is a term used to describe avitaminosis, the deficiency of one or more vitamins due to insufficient intake, impaired absorption, increased requirements, or other medical factors. It is not a single disease but a category of conditions that arise when vitamins are unavailable in adequate amounts for normal metabolism and health. Primary avitamiinism results from an inadequate diet, while secondary avitamiinism occurs despite adequate food intake, often due to malabsorption, liver or kidney disease, pregnancy, infancy, or certain medications.

Causes and risk factors include poor or restricted diets, especially in settings with limited access to diverse foods; advanced age; chronic alcohol use; malabsorption syndromes such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease; bariatric surgery; and long-term use of drugs that interfere with vitamin metabolism. The specific risk depends on which vitamin is deficient.

Symptoms and related disorders vary by vitamin. Common examples include vitamin A deficiency causing night blindness and eye dryness; vitamin C deficiency leading to scurvy with gum disease and poor wound healing; vitamin D deficiency resulting in rickets or osteomalacia; and B vitamin deficiencies causing anemia, neuropathy, or dermatitis. Diagnosis relies on clinical signs, dietary history, and laboratory tests that measure vitamin levels or functional biomarkers, recognizing that some lab results may be imperfect indicators.

Treatment involves targeted vitamin supplementation and management of underlying causes, along with dietary changes to ensure adequate intake. Prevention focuses on dietary diversification, fortification programs, and supplementation for at-risk groups to reduce the burden of avitaminosis.