avitaminosis n : any of several diseases caused by deficiency of one or more vitamins [syn: hypovitaminosis] [also: avitaminoses (pl)]

English

Noun

1. Any disease which is caused by vitamin deficiency.

Avitaminosis is any disease caused by chronic or long-term vitamin deficiency or caused by a defect in metabolic conversion, such as tryptophan to niacin. They are designated by the same letter as the vitamin.

Conversely hypervitaminosis is the syndrome of symptoms caused by over-retention of fat-soluble vitamins in the body.

Types

Avitaminoses include

• vitamin A deficiency causes xerophthalmia or night blindness
• thiamine deficiency causes beriberi
• niacin deficiency causes pellagra
• vitamin B12 deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia
• vitamin C deficiency leads to scurvy
• vitamin D deficiency causes rickets
• vitamin K deficiency causes bleeding

See also

• Essential nutrient
• Illnesses related to poor nutrition
• Vitamin#Human vitamins for more details.
• Orthomolecular medicine