Manual of Clinical Nutrition

Manual of Clinical Nutrition Management II- 26 Copyright © 2013 Compass Group, Inc.

PHYSICAL SIGNS OF NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES

Body Part Signs Deficiencies

Hair
Color change
Easy pluckability, sparseness
Alopecia
Brittle
Dryness

Protein-energy malnutrition

Biotin, zinc, vitamins A and E

Skin
Acneiform lesions
Follicular keratosis (scalelike plaques)
Xerosis (dry skin)
Ecchymoses; petechiae (hemorrhagic spots)
Thickening and hyperpigmentation of pressure points
Scrotal dermatosis

Vitamin A

Vitamin A or essential fatty acids

Vitamin A

Vitamins C and K

Niacin

Niacin and riboflavin

Eyes
Pale conjunctiva (pale coloring of eyelid lining and whites of the
eyes)
Bitot’s spots (foamy spots on the whites of the eyes)
Conjunctival xerosis (inner lids and whites appear dull, rough)
Angular palpebritis (corners of eyes are cracked, red)

Iron, folate, or vitamin B 12

Vitamin A

Vitamin A

Riboflavin and niacin

Mouth
Decreased production of salivary fluids
Angular stomatitis (cracked, red, flaky at corner of mouth)
Bleeding gums
Cheilosis (vertical cracks of lips)

Vitamin A

Vitamin B 12

Vitamin C

Riboflavin

Tongue
Atrophic papillae (smooth, pale, slick tongue)

Glossitis (red, painful tongue)

Magenta tongue (purplish, red tongue)

Folate, niacin, riboflavin, iron, or

vitamin B 12

Folate, niacin, and vitamin B 12

Riboflavin

Nails
Koilonychia (concave, spoon-shaped)
Iron

Extremities
Genu valgum or varum (knocked knees or bowed legs)
Loss of deep tendon reflexes of lower extremities

Vitamin D or calcium

Thiamin and vitamin B 12