NutrientEffectsontheNervousSystem

Compound

Deficiency

Overabundance

Sources

Comments

Nausea,fatigue,headachetoxic
inlargeamounts

Sweet
potato,
dairy
products,
beefliver,
raw
carrots

Onetofivemillionpeople
haveavitaminA
deficiency.

Noneknown

Pork,
liver,
grains,
wheat
germ,
dried
beans

Deficiencyseenmostoften
inalcoholics

Littleislostduring
cooking,butitissensitive
tolight.
Importantforreleasing
energyfromcarbohydrates,
fatsandproteins

Vitamins

VitaminA
(Retinol)

Visionproblemssuchasnightblindness(nyctalopia).
Nightblindnessistheinabilityoftheeyestoadjustwhen
apersongoesfromalightedareatoadarkarea.changes
intheskinandmucousmembranesdecreasedsenseof
taste

VitaminB1
(Thiamine)

Beriberi=lossofmotorcoordinationparalysispainin
armsandlegsheadache.Lossofmyelinsheathattacks
motorandsensoryaxonsoftheneuron.

VitaminB2
(Riboflavin)

Visualproblems:burning,itchingoftheeyes,sensitivity
tolightburningsensationsaroundthemouthperipheral
nervedamage

Noneknown

Beef
liver,
milk,
yogurt

VitaminB3
(Niacin)

Pellegra=mentalproblems(disorientation,confusion,
depression,memorydeficit,mania,paranoia)digestive
problemsskinproblems.

Liverdamageflushingofthe
skin

Beef,
corn,
peanuts

VitaminB5
(Pantothenic
Acid)

Althoughrare,fatigue,burningsensationsonhandsand
feet,andheadachesmayoccur

Noneknown

Beef
liver,
yogurt,
eggyolks,

Foundinmanydifferent
foodssoadeficiencyis
rare.

wheat,
rice

VitaminB6
(Pyridoxine)

Abnormaltouchsensations,mania,convulsions
abnormalEEGrecordings

VitaminB9
FolicAcid

Peripheralnerveproblems,memorydisorder,
convulsions.Involvedwithneuraltubedefects:spina
bifida,anencephaly

VitaminB12
Cobalamin

Mainlycausesblooddisorders.Neurologicalsigns
includememoryproblems,pain,abnormaltouch
sensationsandmovementproblemsincludingweakness.
canoccur.Degenerationofwhitematterinthecerebral
hemispheres,opticnerves,spinalcord.

VitaminC
(Ascorbic
Acid)

VitaminD
(Calciferol)

VitaminE
(Tocopherol)

Scurvy=jointpain,opensores,weightloss

Helpbodybringincalcium,solowVitaminDmaylead
tolowcalciumlevels.Thismaycauseseizures.Rickets=
malformationofbones,sweating,restlessness

Affectsperipheralnervesandthenervesupplytomuscle.
Walkingandbalanceproblems,eyemovementproblems.

Rareproblems

Ham,
eggs,
potato,
oatmeal,
chicken,
banana

Alcoholcaninterferwith
vitaminB6metabolism.
Involvedwiththe
productionofnumerous
neurotransmitters.

Noneknown

Spinach,
yeast,
brocolli

Oneofthemostcommon
vitamindeficiency.
Preventsspinaltube
defects.

Noneknown.

Beef
liver,
clams,
oysters,
tuna

Affectsmyelinformation

Digestiveproblems

Citrus
fruit

Usedintheproductionof
theneurotransmitters
serotoninanddopamine.

Excessivecalcificationofbones
andsofttissuestoxicinlarge
amounts

Tuna,
salmon,
milk
fortified
with
Vitamin
D

VitaminDcanbeproduced
bythebodybyareaction
withultravioletlightinthe
skin.

Feweffectsknown

Cornoil,
wheat
germ,
sunflower
oil,milk

Enhancestheeffectsof
vitaminAprotectfatty
acidsgoodforcell
membranes

Minerals

Beef
liver,
oysters,
crab

Thehighestconcentration
ofcopperinthebodyis
foundinthekidneythe
secondhighest
concentrationisfoundin
thebrain.

Anemia=reductionintheamountofoxygeninthe
blood.Oxygenisnecessaryfortheconversionofglucose
intoenergy.

Animal
protein,
beans,
rice,corn,
apricots,
liver

Mostcommonnutritional
deficiencyintheworld
highestbrainlevelsfound
inthebasalganglia

Musclespasms,anxiety,headache,insomnia,cramps

Respiratoryproblems

Wheat
germ,
almonds,
corn,
peanuts

Assistsinenergyregulation
ofcellsactivatesenzymes

Sleepproblems,cramps

almonds,
grains

Wilson'sdiseasegenetic
disorderthatcausesabuildupof
copperandresultsinmentaland
movementproblems.

Copper

Iron

Magnesium

Manganese
Selenium

Cardiacproblems

CNSdamage

Tasteandsmellloss,hallucinations,depression.Zinc
deficiencyduringpregnancycancausebraindefects.

Musclepain,headache,flulike
symptoms

Oysters,
egg,
lobster,
shrimp

Intracranialhypertension,
headache,fatigue,memoryand

Oldpaint,
older

Oysters,
liver,lobster

Zinc

Thehippocampushasa
highconcentrationofzinc.

Lead

Cadmium

concentrationproblems
paralysisgoutLeadis
neurotoxicandcanalsodamage
thekidneys.

plumbing,
glazes,
leaded
gasoline.

Neurotoxicpossiblelearning
problems.

Industrial
pollution
cigarette
smoke.

Noneknown

Eggyolk,
liver

Other

Biotin

Movementproblems,visualproblems,maybeinvolved
inSuddenInfantDeathSyndrome

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Eatinguncookedeggwhite
canleadtodeficiencyin
biotin.