Warning Signs Linked To A Vitamin E Deficiency

General Malaise

General malaise can be best described as a feeling of unwellness and fatigue. This symptom occurs as the result of hemolytic anemia precipitated from vitamin E deficiency. An increase in erythrocyte fragility is implicated in the development of anemia in affected individuals. Erythrocyte fragility refers to a decreased ability of the red blood cells to resist breakdown when under stress, causing the red blood cells to become extremely vulnerable to destruction in states of oxidative stress.

The faster and easier destruction of red blood cells due to the absence of vitamin E can cause a decrease in a patient's red blood cell count. Low numbers of functioning red blood cells cause an inability to sufficiently carry and deliver oxygen to all of the tissues in the body. This mechanism causes the affected individual to feel malaise, fatigue, and weakness.

Impaired Immune System

Vitamin E helps protect the cells of the body, and it plays a key role in combating infection. Patients with a deficiency in this vitamin could experience an impaired immune system, and they may be more vulnerable to viruses and conditions such as cancer. Individuals with impaired immune systems are unable to fight oxidative stress from environmental factors like pollution, smoking, alcohol, and ultraviolet radiation, and they tend to get colds and respiratory infections more often than those with healthy immune systems.

Since frequent infections can be a sign of an underlying medical condition, individuals who notice frequent or persistent symptoms of an infection such as coughing, fever, and runny nose should see their physician for an evaluation. Doctors can perform blood tests to evaluate the health of the immune system and to check for vitamin levels. If a vitamin E deficiency is found to be the cause of the patient's immune system difficulties, high-dose vitamin E supplements may be prescribed.