Health Issue Concern: Vitamin Deficiency
My community is the population of Magnolia, Texas, and the Houston area that lacks access to fresh fruits and vegetables. For this reason, they suffer from vitamin deficiency, a pathological condition characterized by a shortage of one or more vitamins in the human body. Vitamin deficiency primarily affects the body’s immune defense and leads to a marked deterioration in health (Amrein et al., 2020). In medicine, two painful conditions are observed among community residents. This is a vitamin deficiency in the complete absence of any vitamin, as well as hypovitaminosis with insufficient absorption of vitamins or a lack of intake of these substances compared with their expenditure.
Due to the occurrence of beriberi, they are divided into external ones – environmental, food, and others, as well as internal ones, the development of which is due to a violation of the work of internal organs. In the community, many people lack access to fresh fruits and vegetables, leading to vitamin deficiencies caused by external factors (Amrein et al., 2020). Among the nutritional causes of vitamin deficiency, one can single out the use of low-quality products that contain insufficient amounts of vitamins. Residents of the community also suffer from vitamin deficiencies due to their use of refined carbohydrates, ground cereals, and fine flour, while excluding fresh vegetables and fruits from their diet (Amrein et al., 2020). This violates the ratio of essential nutrients in the diet due to the restriction of animal protein and fat, with increased carbohydrate intake.
Epidemiologic Data & Biostatistics Available
The vitamins whose intake is insufficient in the studied community are A, B1, B2, PP, D, and beta-carotene. According to epidemiologic data and biostatistics, 60-70% of residents in the Magnolia, Texas, and Houston area have a deficiency in three or more vitamins necessary for life (Amrein et al., 2020). According to their research, the vast majority of community residents aged 16 to 60 lack vitamins A, B2, B12, and E (Amrein et al., 2020). At the same time, analyzing citizens’ actual diets revealed excessive consumption of fats, sugar, and salt.
The community members consumed less dietary fiber than the norm. Vitamin A deficiency was found in 27% of the surveyed, B vitamins in 70%, vitamin C in 9%, and vitamin E in 40-50% (Amrein et al., 2020). At the same time, over the past two years, due to the crisis, demand for vitamin preparations in pharmacies has fallen by 27% (Amrein et al., 2020). Community members do not consider vitamin complexes and dietary supplements to be essential goods and prefer not to spend money on them.
The constant shortage of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins leads to diseases of the heart and blood vessels, the musculoskeletal system, the nervous system, and the immune system. As a result, according to the same epidemiologic data and biostatistics, today in the Magnolia, Texas, and Houston area, more than 40% of men and 50% of women are overweight (Amrein et al., 2020). That is, one in four community residents suffers from some degree of obesity (Amrein et al., 2020). On average, a person needs 2,100 calories per day, which can be provided to community members (Amrein et al., 2020). However, in the current conditions of a lack of fresh fruits and vegetables, it is not possible to meet all the necessary vitamin and trace element requirements without special additives.
Reference
Amrein, K., Scherkl, M., Hoffmann, M., Neuwersch-Sommeregger, S., Köstenberger, M., Berisha, A. T., Martucci, G., Pilz, S., & Malle, O. (2020). Vitamin D deficiency 2.0: An update on the current status worldwide. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 46(113), 1498-1513.