3 common nutritional deficiencies that can benefit from personalized, natural supplements

Almost everyone can benefit from nutraceuticals. Nutrition is considered one of the most powerful and modifiable factors to support health and reduce the risk of disease. However, high doses of nutrients or botanical medicines must be personalized to the individual. To deliver the right combination of nutraceuticals, we must first understand exactly what your body needs. And that starts with nutritional testing at the Connecticut Center for Integrative Medicine. We serve Stamford and greater Fairfield and Westchester counties with nutritional testing to uncover deficiencies that require prompt and personalized care; three of the most common needs are highlighted below.

Vitamin D

This vitamin is essential to support bone and muscle health. Deficiencies arise when you do not get enough of this vitamin through foods like egg yolks, mushrooms, fortified cereals, and juice. Limited sun exposure is also associated with shortfalls, as vitamin D is synthesized or produced when the skin comes in contact with sunlight. Some medications and medical conditions can also affect how your body uses and absorbs vitamin D. Chronic and/or severe deficiencies can result in low calcium levels and conditions that present as:

• Poor bone development among children
• Muscle weakness 
• Bone pain 
• Joint deformities
• Fatigue
• Muscle cramps 
• Aching muscles
• Depression 
• Mood imbalances 

Iron

The world’s most prevalent nutritional deficiency is a lack of iron, which is most prevalent among young children and women of childbearing age. Women may be at risk of deficiencies due to blood loss during menstruation. Strict vegetarians and vegans, and young children, may also develop deficiencies due to a lack of iron in their diet. Heme iron is absorbed easily by the body. Still, it is only found in animal foods (such as red meat), underscoring the importance of supplementation and consuming good non-heme food sources when you have special dietary needs. Deficiencies are associated with behavioral, learning, and other developmental challenges in childhood. Since iron is a major component of the red blood cells, it is essential for proper oxygenation of the body’s tissues and organs. Anemia is a significant complication of iron deficiency. Our patients with iron deficiencies may be: 

• Very pale 
• Chronically fatigued
• Weak 
• Prone to developing frequent sicknesses
• Short of breath with slight exertion
• Intolerant of cold

B Vitamins

There are eight B vitamins. Some, like niacin, are capable of great harm when you have too much of them. These vitamins are largely responsible for turning carbs, fat, and proteins in our foods into a usable form of energy. Regarding deficiencies in B vitamins, B12 is the most common, while vitamin B6 is common among certain populations (such as seniors). The B12 vitamin is crucial for producing red blood cells and supports healthy nerve and brain function. The latter B6 nutrient also plays an important role in immune system function, metabolism, and cognition. Since B12 is mainly found in animal foods, those who do not consume any animal products are at greatest risk. Insufficient dietary intake and conditions that cause malabsorption of nutrients are generally to blame for B6 deficiencies. A lack of these vitamins may manifest as:

• Extreme tiredness
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Sore mouth, tongue
• Yellow skin
• Irritability 
• Memory impairment 
• Vision problems 
• Numbness, tingling 
• Cracked and sore lips
• Skin rashes
• Frequent infections and sickness

Our naturopathic physicians have the diagnostic and therapeutic expertise to accurately identify your body’s needs for optimal functioning and to safely supplement those nutritional needs, enhancing your overall health.

If you want more information about nutritional testing and nutraceuticals, request an appointment today! The Stamford, CT office of the Connecticut Center for Integrative Medicine can be reached at (866) 320-6402.

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