Vitamin and Mineral Nutrient Deficiencies

Over 90% of the population in the United States suffers from some sort of nutrient deficiency. Below is a non-exhaustive list of deficiencies, symptoms, along with a list of the most commonly used medications and what nutrients they deplete. 

Nutrient Deficiencies and Common Symptoms

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) show the following statistics: 

• 90% are deficient in Potassium
  Symptoms: high blood pressure, constipation, muscle weakness, and fatigue.
• 80% are deficient in Vitamin E
  Symptoms: weakened immune system, nerve/muscle damage, muscle weakness, and vision issues.
• 70% are deficient in Calcium
  Symptoms: osteoporosis, bone density loss, extreme fatigue, insomnia, brain fog, forgetfulness.
• Over 50% are deficient in Vitamin D
  Symptoms: bone density loss, fatigue, sleep issues, depression, hair loss, appetite loss, muscle weakness, weakened immune system.
• 50% are deficient in vitamin A
  Symptoms: stunted growth, skin irritation, night blindness, infections.
• 50% are deficient in vitamin C
  Symptoms: fatigue, irritability, depression, rash, gingivitis, petechiae, dry hair and skin.
• 50% are deficient in magnesium
  Symptoms: fatigue, headaches, nervousness, nausea.
• 90% of those with very dark skin are deficient in vitamin D
  Symptoms: bone density loss, fatigue, sleep issues, depression, hair loss, appetite loss, muscle weakness, weakened immune system.
• 70% of elderly are deficient in vitamin D
  Symptoms: bone density loss, fatigue, sleep issues, depression, hair loss, appetite loss, muscle weakness, weakened immune system.

 

Vitamin and Mineral Depletions by Medication:

Top 8 Medications:

1. Synthroid (Levothyroxine): Causes calcium to be lost in the urine.

2. Statins or HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Crestor): Interferes with coenzyme Q10, vitamin K2, and selenium.

3. Proton pump inhibitors (Nexium, Prevacid, Omeprazole, and Protonix): Depletes vitamin B12, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, chromium, beta carotene and vitamin C. 

4. Albuterol (Ventolin HFA, ProAir HFA, Proventil, Ventolin, and Proventil HFA): Depletes calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphate.

5. Salmeterol (Advair): Depletes calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and potassium.

6. ARB - Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (Diovan or Valsartan): Depletes magnesium, potassium, and zinc. 

7. Insulin (Lantus Solostar): Depletes DHEA.

8. Anti-Depressant Medications (most): Depletes coenzyme Q10, Vitamin B2, B6, and melatonin.

 

Other popular medications

  

Antibiotics: 

General: Depletes vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, folate, biotin, and vitamin K. 

Aminoglycosides (Gentamicin, Streptomycin, etc): Depletes magnesium and potassium.

Fluoroquinolones (Cipro, Levaquin, Norfloxacin, etc): Depletes calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium.

Tetracycline: Depletes calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and potassium. 

 

Anti-seizure Medications:

Carbamazepine (Tegretol, etc): Depletes biotin, acetyl-l carnitine, folic acid, calcium, vitamin D, E, and K. 

Phenytoin (Dilantin, etc.): Depletes  biotin, folic acid, acetyl l carnitine, vitamin B1, B12, D, E, K, calcium, and zinc. 

Valproic Acid (Depakote, etc): Depletes  folic acid, acetyl-l-carnitine, vitamin B3, and zinc. 

 

Anxiety Medications: 

Xanax, Valium, etc: Depletes melatonin.  

 

 

Cardiac Medications:

Statins or HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Crestor): Interferes with coenzyme Q10, vitamin K2, and selenium.

Hydralazine: Depletes vitamin B6

Catopril: Depletes zinc. 

Cardiac Glycosides (Digoxin): Depletes magnesium.  

Bile Acid Sequestrants (Cholestestyramine, Questran, etc): Depletes beta carotene, vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin K.

 

Depression/Central Nervous System Medications:

Tricyclic Antidepressants (amytriptyline, Pamelor, etc): Depletes coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B2.

SSRIs (Prozac, Zoloft, etc): Depletes iodine, 

MAOs: Depletes vitamin B6. 

 

Diabetic Medications: 

Metformin: Depletes coenzyme Q10, folic acid, B1, B6, and B12. 

Insulin (Lantus Solostar): Depletes DHEA. 

 

Diuretics/Water Pills:

Lasix, etc: Depletes calcium, magnesium, potassium, folic acid, vitamin B1, B6, and C. 

Thiazide and Thiazide derivatives: Depletes magnesium, potassium, zinc, folic acid, and vitamin B1.

  

Gastrointestinal (GI) Medications:

Antacids (magnesium salts or aluminum salts): Depletes calcium, phosphorus, chromium, folic acid and iron. 

H-2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac, etc): Depletes calcium, chromium, folic acid, vitamin B12, and zinc. 

Proton pump Inhibitors (Prevacid, Omeprazole, Protonix): Depletes beta carotene, calcium, chromium, folic acid, iron, Vitamin B12 and C, and zinc.

 

Hormone Medications:

Synthroid (Levothyroxine): Causes calcium to be lost in the urine.

Estrogens (Estrace, FemPatch, Premarin, Prempro, etc): Depletes folic acid, magnesium, vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12, vitamin A, C, and zinc.

Birth Control Pills (Containing Estrogen): Depletes folic acid, magnesium, vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12, vitamin A, C, and zinc.

 

Laxatives and Enemas: 

Enemas using Mineral Oil: Depletes beta carotene, calcium, vitamin A, D, E, and K, and phosphate salts. 

Stimulant Laxatives (Senokot, Correctol, Dulcolax, etc): Depletes potassium, calcium, and vitamin D. 

  

Pain Medications/Analgesics:

Acetaminophen/Tylenol: Depletes glutathione. Acetaminophen use is the most common cause of drug-induced liver damage in the United States. 

Aspirin: Depletes folic acid, iron, and vitamin C.

NSAIDs or Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, ketoprofen, indomethacin, etc): Depletes iron and folic acid. 

Steroid medications - oral or inhaled (Advair, etc): Depletes calcium, vitamin D, chromium, folic acid, magnesium, strontium, DHEA, and zinc.

 

Rheumatic/Anti-Gout Medications:

Methotrexate: Depletes folic acid. 

Colchicine: Depletes beta carotene and vitamin B12

 

Weight Loss Medications: 

Xenical: Depletes beta carotene, vitamins A, D, E, and K.

 

Search all drugs here: www.mytavin.com

 

 

 

 

SOURCES: 

https://thebiostation.com/bioblog/do-you-have-vitamin-deficiency/#:~:text=50%20percent%20of%20Americans%20are,Americans%20are%20vitamin%20D%20deficient

https://www.wellnessresources.com/news/common-medications-that-rob-the-body-of-nutrients

https://www.medanta.org/patient-education-blog/potassium-deficiency-symptoms-diet-treatment/#:~:text=Potassium%20deficiency%2C%20or%20Hypokalemia%2C%20is,%2C%20muscle%20weakness%2C%20and%20fatigue.

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-Consumer/#:~:text=Vitamin%20E%20deficiency%20can%20cause,is%20a%20weakened%20immune%20system.

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/#:~:text=Calcium%20deficiency%20can%20reduce%20bone,caused%20by%20vitamin%20D%20deficiency.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321865

https://medlineplus.gov/vitaminddeficiency.html#:~:text=Vitamin%20D%20deficiency%20can%20lead,to%20become%20soft%20and%20bend

https://www.nebraskamed.com/primary-care/9-vitamin-d-deficiency-symptoms-and-11-high-vitamin-d-foods

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/what-is-vitamin-a-deficiency

https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/nutritional-disorders/vitamin-deficiency,-dependency,-and-toxicity/vitamin-c-deficiency#:~:text=In%20developed%20countries%2C%20vitamin%20C,bleeding%2C%20impaired%20wound%20healing

 

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/magnesium-deficiency

 

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/magnesium-test