Vitamin therapy

Vitamin infusions are an effective method of treating vitamin deficiencies. Your body needs 13 essential vitamins, which you can supply by taking a variety of foods.

Because each of these vitamins has a different role in the body, vitamin deficiencies can have different health effects, depending on which vitamin or vitamins you are deficient in.

You can develop a deficiency not only because of insufficient vitamins in your diet, but also as a result of a number of medical conditions. Vitamin deficiencies can usually be detected through blood tests and medical evaluation. Vitamin therapy is provided through oral, intramuscular or intravenous vitamin supplements.

 The 13 essential vitamins are:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• vitamin K
• vitamin C
• vitamin B1 thiamin
• vitamin B2 riboflavin
• Vitamin B3 niacin
• Vitamin B5 pantothenic acid
• Vitamin B6 pyroxidine
• Vitamin B7 biotin
• Vitamin B9 folate
• Vitamin B12 cobalamin

Symptoms of vitamin deficiency

Typical symptoms of vitamin deficiency are:

• Fatigue, low energy levels
• Loss of bone density
• Dry skin and hair
• Depression
• Irritability
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Poor wound healing (ulcers that persist for a long time)
• Susceptibility to infections
• Changes in skin color (usually small, flat, light-colored patches on the skin)

Symptoms of deficiency vary. Usually, noticeable effects begin to appear only after several months of low vitamin levels.

Prolonged vitamin deficiency can cause more serious health problems that may not improve, including decreased sensation in the hands and feet, weakness in the fingers and toes, vision loss, memory loss, behavioral changes, shortness of breath and tachycardia (rapid heartbeat).

A number of diseases impede the proper absorption and metabolization of vitamins, leading to deficiencies.

In addition to an inadequate diet, common causes of vitamin deficiency include:

• Liver diseases (liver failure, alcoholic liver disease)
• Kidney diseases
• Chronic diarrhea
• Malabsorption syndrome
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Malignant anemia

Treatment of vitamin deficiency involves supplementation. If the cause of the deficiency is a medical condition, it is also necessary to treat the condition.

The main treatments used to combat deficiencies are:

Dietary changes

In many cases, even if a disease contributes to a vitamin deficiency, long-term dietary changes can help correct and prevent the deficiency from worsening. You can learn which foods contain the vitamins you need so that you can pay attention to the right amount. Treatment includes developing a customized diet plan to correct deficiencies and ensure long-term health.

Vitamin preparations

There are several ways to make sure you are getting the right amount of vitamins. One option may be vitamin preparations. You may be prescribed an over-the-counter supplement, or when there is an absorption problem, supplements can be delivered through injections or IVs.

Medical care

If you have a chronic condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease, the primary goal is to treat the underlying condition. Some diseases, such as liver failure, may be incurable in the late stages. Long-term vitamin supplementation in the form of injections or IVs may be necessary.