Vitamins

Fat soluble: A,D,E,K

Vitamin C

• necessary for collagen synthesis, iron absorption, immune function, and conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine.
• Deficiency causes
  • Scurvy: swollen/bleeding gums, bruising and poor wound healing
  • Petechiae, perifollicular and subperiosteal hemorrhages, and short, fragile, curly hair.

B1 (Thiamine)

• Deficiency is characterized by Wernicke encephalopathy, a triad of confusion, ophthalmoplegia, and ataxia
  • Reversible with administration of high-dose thiamine; if untreated, it can progress to Korsakoff syndrome
    • Characterized by dementia, confabulation, hallucinations, and psychosis.

B12 (Cobalamin)

• Deficiency in strict veganism or vegetarianism
  • Gastrointestinal malabsorption caused by conditions such as pernicious anemia, malabsorption caused by bariatric surgery, Celiac or Crohn disease, bacterial small bowel overgrowth, or infection with the fish tapeworm Diphyllobothrium latum.
• Megaloblastic Anemia
• Storage for years
  • B12 stays in storage for years

Folic Acid

• Folate is contained in leafy vegetables.
• Deficiency is often seen in patients with malnutrition, alcohol use disorder, and patients taking anti-folate medications (eg, phenytoin, methotrexate)
• Megaloblastic Anemia
• Storage for months
  • Folate goes fast