Avitaminosis
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Avitaminosis is any disease caused by chronic or long-term vitamin deficiency or caused by a defect in metabolic conversion, such as tryptophan to niacin. They are designated by the same letter as the vitamin. Avitaminoses include
- avitaminosis A, xerophthalmia or night blindness
- thiamine deficiency causes beriberi
- niacin deficiency causes pellagra
- avitaminosis C leads to scurvy
- vitamin D deficiency causes rickets
Conversely hypervitaminosis is the syndrome of symptoms caused by over-retention of fat-soluble vitamins in the body.