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Antibiotic Medications |
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Aminoglycosides |
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- Gentamicin
- Neomycin
- Tobramycin
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Depletions |
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Calcium |
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Osteoporosis (bone loss) is the primary disease associated with long-term
calcium deficiency; it may be associated with bone pain and spinal deformity.
Depleted levels can also cause muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, and
depression. |
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Iron |
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Depleted levels of iron may lead to anemia and weakened immune function. In
the event of anemia, symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath,
pale skin color, and possibly irregular heartbeat. |
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Magnesium |
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Magnesium deficiency affects calcium and vitamin D levels in the body and may
be associated with muscle cramps, heart irregularities, high blood pressure,
diabetes, and osteoporosis (bone loss). |
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Nitrogen |
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Deficiency may impair formation of protein, which could lead to stunted
growth, poor muscle development or loss of muscle mass, increased susceptibility
to infection, weakness, and impaired wound healing. |
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Potassium |
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Symptoms of potassium deficiency include loss of appetite, nausea,
drowsiness, feelings of apprehension, fatigue, muscle pain and weakness (usually
of the lower limbs); severe cases may lead to irregular
heartbeat. |
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Probiotics; Bifidobacteria
bifidum;
Lactobacillus
Acidophilus; Saccaromyces boulardii |
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Reducing the number of probiotic organisms in the gastrointestinal tract may
decrease the body's ability to resist infections and diseases. Symptoms of
deficiency include gas, abdominal distress, diarrhea, and yeast
infections. |
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Sodium |
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Because of the wide availability of sodium in dietary sources, deficiency is
very uncommon. In the rare instances where it does occur, depleted levels have
been associated with gas, nausea and vomiting, headache, memory impairment,
diminished attention, muscle weakness, heart palpitations, lethargy, and
confusion. Extreme cases can cause stupor, seizures, and possibly coma. The
development of symptoms depends in large part on the rate of the loss of
sodium. |
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Vitamin
A
(Retinol) |
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The earliest symptom of deficiency of this nutrient is night blindness.
Prolonged deficiency leads to more advanced changes in eye tissue. Other
potential signs of mild to moderate deficiency include rough, dry skin, loss of
appetite, loss of hair luster, brittle nails, joint pain, and possibly increased
susceptibility to infection. |
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Vitamin
B12
(Cobalamin) |
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Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are rare because it takes years
to develop complications associated with long-term depletion of this nutrient.
Irritability, weakness, numbness, anemia, loss of appetite, headache,
personality changes, and confusion are some of the signs and symptoms associated
with vitamin B12 depletion. Low levels of this vitamin may also be
associated with an increased risk of colon cancer, heart disease, brain
disorders, and birth defects. |
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Vitamin
K |
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The major symptom of vitamin K deficiency is an inability of the blood to
clot properly, which may lead to excessive bleeding and a tendency to bruise
easily. |
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Editorial Note |
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Supporting Research |
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Ames BN. Micronutrient deficiencies: A major cause of DNA damage. Ann NY
Acad Sci. 2000;889:87-106.
Berger W. Incidence of severe side effects during therapy with sulfonylureas
and biguanides. Horm Metab Res Suppl. 1985;15:111-115.
Carpentier JL, Bury J, Luyckx A, Lefebvre P. Vitamin B12 and folic acid serum
levels in diabetics under various therapeutic regimens. Diabetes Metab.
1976;2(4):187-190.
Cashman K, Flynn A. Optimal nutrition: calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.
Proc Nutr Soc. 1999;58:477-487.
Conly, J. and Stein, K. Reduction of vitamin K2 concentrations in human liver
associated with the use of broad spectrum antimicrobials. Clin Invest
Med. 1994;17(6):531-539.
Covington T, ed. Nonprescription Drug Therapy Guiding Patient
Self-Care. St Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons; 1999:467-545.
Cummings JH and Macfarland G. Role of intestinal bacteria in nutrient
metabolism. J. Parenter. Enteral. Nutr. 21(6):357-365, 1997.
Fauci A. ed. et. al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine.
Fourteenth Edition. New York, Mc-Graw-Hill Companies Health Professional
Division, 1998.
Galland L. The Four Pillars of Healing. New York, NY: Random House;
1997:186-199.
International Life Sciences Institute, Present Knowledge in Nutrition.
Seventh Edition. Washington, DC, ILSI Press, 1996.
Kaplan NM. The dietary guideline for sodium: should we shake it up? NAm J
Clin Nutr. 2000;71:1020-1026.
Kirschmann G. and Kirschmann, J. Nutrition Almanac. Fourth Edition.
McGraw-Hill, 1996.
National Research Council. Recommended Dietary Allowances.
10th ed. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1989.
Potts JT. Diseases of the parathyroid gland and other hyper- and hypocalcemic
disorders. In: Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, et al, eds. Harrison's
Principles of Internal Medicine. 14th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill
Companies Health Professional Division; 1998:2241.
Roe DA. Drug-Induced Nutritional Deficiencies. Second Ed. Westport,
CT, Avi Publishing, pp. 155-158, 1985.
Shahani KM. and Ayelo, AD. Rise of dietary Lactobacilli in
gastrointestinal microecology. Am J Clin Nutr. 1980;33:2448-2457.
Singer GG, Brenner BM. Fluid and electrolyte disturbances. In: Fauci AS,
Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, et al, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal
Medicine. 14th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies Health Professional
Division; 1998:269.
Stevens CE and Hume ID. Contributions of microbes in vertebrate
gastrointestinal tract to production and conservation of nutrients. Physiol.
Rev. 78(2):393-427, 1998. |
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Review Date:
October 2000 |
Reviewed By:
All depletions monographs have been reviewed by a
team of experts including
Derrick M. DeSilva, Jr., MD, Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy, NJ;
Jacqueline A. Hart, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley
Hospital, Harvard University and Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc., Boston,
MA; John Hinze, PharmD, NMD, Woodbine, IA; Ruth Marlin, MD, Medical Director and
Director of Medical Education, Preventive Medicine Research Institute,
Sausalito, CA; Brian T Sanderoff, PD, BS in Pharmacy, Clinical Assistant
Professor, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy; President, Your
Prescription for Health, Owings Mills, MD; Leonard Wisneski, MD, FACP, George
Washington University, Rockville, MD; Ira Zunin, MD, MPH, MBA, President and
Chairman, Hawaii State Consortium for Integrative Medicine, Honolulu,
HI.
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