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Deficiency Diseases in Humans and in Plants, Their Causes, Symptoms, and More
Sudeshna Paul
Updated on 18th July, 2024 , 4 min read
It goes by definition that deficiency diseases are diseases that are primarily caused by the lack of essential vitamins and minerals in a person’s diet. A healthy and nutritious diet is necessary for the human body to maintain good well-being and to maintain the same, it is quite crucial to take the right amount of vitamins and minerals. A deficiency is caused when a person follows an unhealthy or unbalanced diet or consumes too much or too little of a given nutrient, vitamin, or mineral.
The human body needs every important nutrient in its right proportions and inadequate amounts can also lead to deficiency over time. For instance, plants also require sufficient amounts of nutrients and minerals for proper growth. Similarly, when provided with the right amount of essential nutrients and minerals, the human body functions properly.
Vitamins and minerals are also essential for the human body as they not only curb the deficiency of such nutrients but also have other beneficial effects, such as glowing skin and a healthy heart. However, there have been a lot of deficiency cases in the human body around the world. It can happen for many reasons. Read more about deficiency diseases and their symptoms in this article.
Deficiency Diseases Chart
| Vitamins and Minerals | Deficiency Diseases |
| Vitamin A (Retinol) | Night blindness |
| B12(Cyanocobalamin) | Anemia |
| B1 (Thiamine) | Beri- Beri |
| B2(Riboflavin) | Bad skin, retardation of growth |
| C(Ascorbic acid) | Scurvy |
| D(Calciferol) | Rickets |
| K(phylloquinone) | Excessive belling due to injury |
| Phosphorus | Bones and Bad teeth |
| Calcium | Excessive bleeding, brittle bones |
| Iron | Anemia |
| Copper | Goitre, thyroid gland enlargement Retarded growth, loss of appetite |
Symptoms of Different Vitamin Deficiency in the Body
- Vitamin A is a micronutrient that can be found in milk, spinach, salmon, liver, and other foods. It is necessary for growth, normal vision, reproduction, and a strong immune system. It is also an essential vitamin for pregnant women.
- Vitamin B comes in various forms. Lack of Vitamin B1 results in weight loss, weakened muscles, and beriberi. It can result in paralysis and heart failure. Vitamin B6 shortage can lead to anemia, skin conditions, depression, and sometimes a nervous system collapse. Additionally, s deficit in vitamin B12 can result in anemia, nerve paralysis, depression, weariness, and dementia.
- Vitamin C causes skin patches, scurvy, bleeding gums, and joint swelling. In severe cases, it can be lethal and has an impact on the immune system.
- Vitamin D results in weak bones, causes tooth decay and also triggers rickets when the body receives it in deficit amounts.
- Vitamin K is necessary for blood coagulation. The lack of it causes excessive bleeding because it prevents blood clots from forming.
- Deficiency of Iodine can lead to developing fetuses and also hormone synthesis in the human body. One major source of iodine is salt.
- Hemoglobin, which is Iron in blood, is responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to various bodily tissues. The primary dietary source of iron is green vegetables. Its deficiency causes anemia, which primarily affects women.
Macronutrients and Micronutrients Important Nutrients for Plants
Water, sunshine, and air are the basic requirements for a plant that provides the oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen required for photosynthesis. However, these are not the only essential things for a plant, they also need other vital macronutrients and micronutrients for growth and other purposes such as preserving enzyme activity, buffering action, and the osmotic concentration of cell sap. While these might not seem to be of value, they are the primary contributors to a plant's proper growth and yielding capabilities.
The macronutrients are magnesium, sulfur, calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. Plants require substantial amounts of these macronutrients. Micronutrients such as zinc, iron, boron, copper, manganese, and molybdenum are required in lesser amounts. Micronutrients, as the name suggests are those nutrients that are required in minor quantities by plants.
Difference Between Macronutrients and Micronutrients
| Micronutrients | Micronutrients |
| For plants to grow, large quantities of these are required. | Plant growth requires comparatively less of these nutrients. |
| Macronutrients are divided into primary and secondary categories. | Micronutrients do not have any sub-category. |
| The element could be either mineral or non-mineral. | Micronutrients are all the same. |
| Certain elements, like H, C, and O, are not taken up by roots from the soil. | All of the elements in micronutrients are absorbed by the plant. |
| They play a part in energy storage as well as the formation of carbon compounds. | They support the transfer of electrons and function as cofactors for enzymes. |
Functions of Various Nutrients in Plants
- Phosphorus is an essential component of proteins, nucleic acids, and the cell membrane. It is essential for root development as well as energy storage and movement. It is disease-resistant as well. Phosphorus deficiency causes weakening roots, shoots, and dark red, purple, or green leaves.
- Nitrogen is taken in the form of ions and is needed in huge quantities as it is an essential component of proteins, vitamins, and hormones and is needed for cell division. It has an impact on vegetation and vegetative growth. Nitrogen is also an important part of the photosynthesis process. A lack of nitrogen causes weakening during crop growth, yellowing of the leaves, or chlorosis
- Potassium boosts the growth of the plants and for the stomata to open and close. It assists in preserving the turgidity of cells and also preserves the stiffness of enzymes. Additionally, it affects water absorption and increases resistance to drought. It offers defense against insect and fungal illnesses. A potassium deficit results in stunted development, burning and yellowing of the leaf margins, and dead patches on older leaves.
- Calcium is necessary for both the proper functioning of the cell membrane and the process of cell division. Moreover, it controls the metabolic processes of the plants.
- Sulphur is the primary component of coenzymes, amino acids, and vitamins in plants.
- Magnesium aids in respiration and photosynthesis activity. It also aids in the production of RNA and DNA. It's a crucial component of ribosomes.
- Chlorine helps to balance the cell's anion-cation and solute concentration.
- Copper and zinc help in the activation of several enzymes such as the auxin activity and the growth of seeds, fruit, and roots are both aided by zinc.
- Boron is important for amino acid production, transport of sugar, fruiting, flowering, and cell wall formation.
- Photosynthesis and chlorophyll synthesis depend on iron. It facilitates the lignin-forming process.
It is evident by now that like the human body, even plants need essential nutrients for growth and other factors. And the deficiency of these vital nutrients can affect the plant growth.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are important minerals needed by our body?
The human body needs important minerals that comes from a balanced diet. These include sodium, calcium, phosphorus, chloride, magnesium, and others.
Which element is responsible for the opening and closing of stomata?
Potassium is responsible for the opening and closing of stomata in plants, lack of which can reduce the growth of plants.
Night blindness is caused by a deficiency of which vitamin?
Night Blindness is a serious deficiency disease that causes individuals to lose eyesight in the darkness. This can be caused by a lack of Vitamin A in the body.
What are the 10 deficiency diseases?
While there are many deficiency diseases, here is a list of 10 deficiency diseases that is caused by the lack of essential vitamins and minerals: hypocalcemia, osteo malacia, rickets, beriberi, scurvy, vitamin K deficiency, pellagra, xerophthalmia, and iron deficiency.
What is common deficiency?
The four most common vitamin deficits are folic acid, vitamin D, vitamins B6 and B12. Iron, iodine, magnesium, and calcium shortages are among the other prevalent nutritional deficiencies.