Vitamin E Deficiency Symptoms

As many other deficiencies, the vitamin E deficiency symptoms appear when there is malnutrition, although they can also appear due to genetic conditions that harm the vitamin E a-tocopherol transfer protein. Problems with processing fat-soluble vitamins are a great cause of vitamin E deficiency. It can also be caused in infants by low birth weight.

The main vitamin E deficiency symptoms in infants are two: irritability and edema. Edema is the retention of fluid in a certain part of the body (cells, tissues and cavities), it produces swelling.

In adults, the main symptom is anemia. Anemia occurs when there are not enough red blood cells on your blood.

These symptoms are not exclusive to vitamin E, but can definitely be a warning sign.

If your doctor notice these vitamin E deficiency symptoms, and conclude it is indeed a deficiency, you will need to undergo treatment. This treatment will vary depending on the cause.

An intramuscular injection will be needed if the deficiency is caused by low amounts of bile salts in the lumen of the small intestine.. This is because patients with this problem are unable to absorb oral administrations.

In other cases, oral administration to treat the vitamin E deficiency symptoms will be enough, although keep in mind that the doctor need to address the underlying cause first.

Preventing Vitamin E Deficiency Symptoms

To prevent any lack of this vitamin, you need proper supplementation thanks to vitamin supplements. In the case of impaired normal coagulation mechanisms, the intake of vitamin E is completely safe. Be sure to have medical check up first and consult your doctor before taking vitamin E, because in some cases higher doses of this vitamin are needed )specially when a patient suffers of short-bowel syndrome).

Thanks for reading this article about vitamin E deficiency symptoms.

  1. Wanda Conatser
    August 5th, 2009 at 18:49 | #1

    I have been treated for Vit E malabsorbtion for eight years. Symptoms started six years earlier. Never was I anemic. I am 75 yrs old. My first symptoms were peripheral neuropathy, ataxia, pre-syncope among other symptoms. After six years of being sent doctor to doctor. I went to Mayo Clinic and was diagnosed the cause in twenty-four hours.

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