Essential Vitamins for Women

Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiencies and Risk Factors

There are specific symptoms and risks that signal vitamin deficiency.

Symptoms:

• Vitamin A – poor night vision, bumps on the back of arms
• Vitamin B – tingling and numbness in hands or feet
• Vitamin D – muscles aches, fatigue, weakness

Risk Factors:

• Diets high in processed foods, and low in fruits and vegetables
• Vegetarian or vegan diets
• Consuming little calories or being underweight
• Pregnancy or reproductive age
• Postmenopause or over the age of 65
• Poverty and lack of education

Reproductive age and menopause represent delicate periods in a woman’s life, when it is crucial to pay attention to nutrition.

Reproductive Age

Deficiencies can be passed from mothers to children, and children of women who suffer from deficiencies are more likely to get infections and diseases and experience cognitive and developmental issues. Women who are preparing to have children need to take extra care of their food habits and counter nutritional deficiencies to maintain a healthy body in preparation for pregnancy. Vitamins lower the risk of issues during pregnancy and reduce the risk of birth defects and diseases. In addition, milk production is affected by nutrition. For all these reasons, it is important that women in reproductive age think about their health as future mothers and take all the necessary steps to ensure their children’s health.