Composition Of Body Fluids Research Articles

The effects of vitamin deficiency on the gastro-intestinal tract

It has been clearly demonstrated that vitamin deficiency states may be manifested by a variety of gastro-intestinal symptoms and abnormalities. These manifestations include such commonly observed symptoms as anorexia and diarrhea, such abnormalities in function as achlorhydria and alteration m tne motor activity and absorption function ol the intestine, and in such lesions as stomatitis, glossitis, proctitis and atrophy and inflammation of the gastric and intestinal mucosa. These manifestations are largely non-specific in character, the frequency of them is unknown and detection of them must depend on inspection of the oral cavity, gastric analysis, roentgenologic study of the alimentary tract particularly of the small intestine as well as on a Search for other evidence of vitamin deficiency such as peripheral neuritis, edema, night blindness and scurvy. Chemical and biologic tests which will measure abnormalities in the chemical composition of body fluids or slightly altered function of the tissues induced by states of vitamin deficiency are in the process of development and should prove to be an important method of detecting the full extent of the effects of vitamin deficiency in the gastro-intestinal tract.