Vitamin and Mineral Reference Guide

Vitamin/Mineral Symptoms Diagnosis Treating the Deficiency

Anemia CBC; low Hgb/Hct, low MCV Iron replacement therapy, up to 300 mg/d
Dysphagia Decreased serum iron elemental iron, usually as 3 or 4 tablets given
Koiloncychia Decreased percentage of during the course of the day
Enteropathy saturation Iron preparations should be taken on an
Iron empty stomach because food can inhibit iron
Fatigue Increased TIBC
Rapid heart rate/palpitations Increased transferrin absorption
Decreased work performance Decreased serum ferritin When oral treatment has failed or with severe
Impaired learning ability anemia, IV iron infusion should be considered
Anorexia Decreased urinary thiamin With hyperemesis, parenteral doses of 100
Gait ataxia excretion mg/d for the first 7 days, followed by daily
Paresthesia Decreased RBC transketolase oral doses of 50 mg/d until complete recovery
Muscle cramps Decreased serum thiamin Simultaneous therapeutic doses of other
Thiamin/B1 Irritability Increased lactic acid waste soluble vitamins
Increased pyruvate Magnesium deficiency must be treated
simultaneously
Administration with food reduces rates of
absorption
Pernicious anemia CBC; elevated MCV, high RDW, 1000 ug/wk IM for 8 weeks, then 1000 ug/mo
Pale with slightly icteric skin and Howell-Jolly bodies, IM for life or 350-500 ug/d oral crystalline B12
eyes reticulocytopenia Neurologic defects might not reverse with
Fatigue, light-headedness, or Low serum B12 supplementation
vertigo Increased MMA and increased
Shortness of breath homocysteine
Tinnitus Decreased transcobalamin II-B12
B-12
Palpitations, rapid pulse, angina Neurologic disease can occur with
and symptoms of congestive failure normal hematocrit
Numbness and paresthesia in
extremities
Ataxia
Anorexia
Diarrhea
EES Healthcare Solutions
DSL 11-0583
 Osteomalacia Decreased 25- 50,000 IU/wk ergocalciferol (D2) orally or
Disorders of calcium deficiency; hydroxycholecalciferol intramuscularly, for 8 weeks
rachitic tetany Decreased serum phosphorus
Increased serum alkaline
Vitamin D phosphatase
Increased parathyroid hormone
Decreased urinary calcium
Decreased or normal serum
calcium

Information taken from ASMBS Allied Health Nutritional Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases 2008. 4; S73-S108.
*Please note that this is not an all inclusive list.

EES Healthcare Solutions

DSL 11-0583