Comprehensive Overview of Vitamin Deficiencies from Western & TCM Perspectives

Comprehensive Overview of Vitamin Deficiencies from Western & TCM Perspectives

In this post, I will outline the common causes and symptoms of each vitamin deficiency and look at how this information relates to acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory. Additionally, I will summarise different options available for diet, lifestyle and supplementation.

Vitamin Deficiencies

As an acupuncturist, I gather information on patients' symptoms and match it to TCM diagnosis patterns, enabling me to choose specific acupuncture points best suited to that person's individual issues. These points prompt bodily responses that help alleviate their symptoms.

While acupuncture provides an environment where your body can create and regulate what it needs to function well and healthily, it cannot magically generate substances that we get from external sources. This is why, as a practitioner, it's important to recognise symptoms of different types of vitamin deficiency. Acupuncture can provide the environment where your body can absorb and process vitamins well, but diet and lifestyle changes and/or supplements may be needed to restore levels to normal.

It's worth noting that recognising symptoms of a vitamin deficiency does not count as a diagnosis, but it is enough to suggest a trip to the GP to ask for a blood test, which will determine the levels and allow for any further investigations about potential causes. Without proper diagnosis you could be overdosing on certain vitamins, fat soluable vitamins (Vit K, E, A & D) can be stored in body in excess, leading to various unpleasant symptoms. Conversely, an excess of water soluable vitamins is extreted through urine. If you want more information on this, then I'd suggest reading this article - https://www.ynhhs.org/articles/can-taking-too-many-vitamins-be-harmful

Symptoms, Causes and TCM Patterns

I've created a table below that will enable you to recognise the symptoms of each vitamin deficiency in either yourself or your patients (if you are a practitioner). It also states the common causes for each, some of which can prompt simple lifestyle changes that will help restore levels. The final column contains the TCM acupuncture patterns associated with the symptoms of each deficiency. As I previously mentioned, treating these patterns will unlikely resolve the deficiency if supplementation is needed; however, treating the relevant patterns will help the body to live its best life as it recovers.

Vitamin	Common Causes	Symptoms (Western Medicine)	TCM Pattern Correlations
B1 (Thiamine)	- Alcoholism (impairs absorption)  - Refined-carb diets  - Chronic diuretics or malabsorption (e.g., Crohn’s)	- Fatigue  - Muscle weakness  - Neuropathy  - Cardiovascular symptoms (beriberi)	- Spleen Qi Deficiency: fatigue, weak limbs  - Damp Accumulation (wet beriberi): edema  - Kidney Essence Deficiency: neurological signs
B2 (Riboflavin)	- Poor diet  - Malabsorption syndromes  - Chronic alcoholism	- Angular stomatitis  - Glossitis (magenta tongue)  - Eye irritation	- Spleen Qi or Yin Deficiency: mouth issues  - Liver Blood Deficiency or Liver Heat: eye issues
B3 (Niacin)	- Corn-based diets (low tryptophan)  - Alcoholism  - Carcinoid syndrome (tryptophan diversion)	- Pellagra (3 D’s): Dermatitis, Diarrhea, Dementia  - Irritability	- Liver Yin/Blood Deficiency: mental-emotional symptoms  - Damp-Heat in Intestines: diarrhea  - Heart Yin Deficiency: cognitive decline
B6 (Pyridoxine)	- Isoniazid, penicillamine, oral contraceptives  - Alcoholism  - Poor diet	- Mood changes  - Neuropathy  - Glossitis, cracked lips	- Liver Qi Stagnation: irritability, depression  - Heart Blood Deficiency: emotional disturbance  - Liver Wind/Internal Wind: neuropathy
B12 (Cobalamin)	- Pernicious anemia (lack of intrinsic factor)  - Vegan diet  - Gastric surgery or malabsorption	- Fatigue, pallor  - Glossitis  - Peripheral neuropathy  - Memory loss	- Spleen Qi & Blood Deficiency: fatigue, pallor  - Heart Blood Deficiency: poor memory, concentration  - Kidney Jing Deficiency: nerve-related symptoms
Folate (B9)	- Alcohol abuse  - Pregnancy (increased demand)  - Anticonvulsants  - Malabsorption	- Fatigue  - Macrocytic anemia  - Depression  - Fetal neural tube defects	- Liver & Heart Blood Deficiency: mood symptoms  - Spleen Qi/Blood Deficiency: anemia symptoms  - Liver Blood Deficiency: reproductive & fetal issues
C (Ascorbic Acid)	- Lack of fruit/veg in diet  - Smoking (increases requirements)  - Elderly, poor diet	- Scurvy: bleeding gums, easy bruising, joint pain  - Fatigue, poor wound healing	- Spleen Qi Not Holding Blood: bruising, bleeding  - Qi & Blood Deficiency: fatigue, healing issues
D (Cholecalciferol)	- Lack of sun exposure  - Dark skin  - Vegan diet  - Kidney/liver disease (activation impaired)	- Bone pain  - Rickets (children)  - Muscle weakness  - Depression, poor immunity	- Kidney Yang or Jing Deficiency: bone issues  - Spleen & Kidney Yang Deficiency: muscle fatigue  - Lung Qi Deficiency: recurrent infections
E (Tocopherol)	- Fat malabsorption (e.g., cystic fibrosis, celiac disease)  - Rare genetic disorders	- Neurological symptoms  - Ataxia  - Vision problems  - Muscle weakness	- Liver Blood/Yin Deficiency: eye and nerve signs  - Kidney Essence Deficiency: weakness, coordination issues
K (Phylloquinone)	- Fat malabsorption  - Long-term antibiotics (gut flora disruption)  - Newborns (low stores)	- Easy bruising, bleeding  - Hemorrhages	- Spleen Qi Not Controlling Blood   - Blood Heat or Yin Deficiency (causing reckless bleeding)

TCM Takeaways

In TCM, the Spleen and Kidney are particularly important when interpreting vitamin deficiency symptoms:

• Spleen Qi Deficiency commonly underlies fatigue, poor digestion, and blood-related symptoms.

• Kidney Essence/Yang Deficiency often relates to developmental, neurological, or bone issues.

• Liver and Heart Blood Deficiencies manifest in emotional, neurological, and cognitive signs.

Diet, Lifestyle & Supplement Options for Vitamin Deficiency

Here's a comprehensive guide to solving each vitamin deficiency using:

• Food sources (focus on whole, natural options)

• Supplements (when needed)

• Lifestyle/other considerations (e.g., sun exposure, gut health)

  
  

All of this is framed with a holistic view, and many suggestions support both Western and TCM approaches. Advice on dosage and diagnosis via blood testing from a medical professional is advised before untaking any of this advice.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Helps: Energy, nerves, musclesFoods:

• Whole grains (brown rice, oats)

• Pork

• Legumes

• Seeds (sunflower)

Supplements: B-complex or thiamine HCl

Other tips:

• Reduce alcohol (depletes B1)

• Support Spleen Qi with cooked grains, warming foods like ginger

  
  

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

Helps: Skin, eyes, energy

Foods:

• Eggs

• Almonds

• Mushrooms

• Dairy products

• Leafy greens

Supplements: Riboflavin, often in B-complex

Other tips:

• Avoid raw egg whites in excess (contain avidin, which binds B vitamins)

• Nourish Liver Blood with dark greens and beetroot

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Helps: Skin, brain, digestion

Foods:

• Chicken, turkey, beef

• Fish (tuna, salmon)

• Peanuts

• Whole grains

• Mushrooms

Supplements: Niacinamide (for fewer side effects), 100–500 mg/dayNote: Niacin (flush form) can cause tingling

Other tips:

• Protein-rich diet boosts tryptophan → niacin

• Support Liver Yin with foods like black sesame, goji berries, mulberries

  
  

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Helps: Mood, hormones, nerves

Foods:

• Bananas

• Poultry

• Potatoes

• Spinach

• Chickpeas

Supplements: Pyridoxine HCl (10–50 mg/day); higher doses for PMS or neuropathy (under supervision)

Other tips:

• Birth control pills may deplete B6

• Ease Liver Qi stagnation with chamomile, peppermint, and regular exercise

• 
  

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

Helps: Nerves, blood, DNA

Foods (only in animal products):

• Liver

• Eggs

• Dairy

• Fish

• Fortified plant milks (vegans)

Supplements:

• B Complex

• Methylcobalamin (preferred for neurological issues)

• Injections for severe deficiency or absorption issues

Other tips:

• Needed intrinsic factor (produced in stomach) → support gut health

• Tonify Spleen Qi and Kidney Jing with bone broth, cooked roots

  
  

Folate (Vitamin B9)

Helps: Cell division, pregnancy, mood

Foods:

• Leafy greens (spinach, kale)

• Lentils

• Asparagus

• Avocados

• Beets

Supplements:

• B Complex

• Folic acid (synthetic) or methylfolate 

Other tips:

• Pregnant women need more

• Combine with B12 for anemia or mood support

• Nourish Liver Blood with beets, eggs, dark berries

  
  

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

Helps: Immunity, collagen, antioxidant

Foods:

• Citrus fruits

• Bell peppers

• Kiwi

• Broccoli

• Strawberries

Supplements:

• Ascorbic acid or buffered vitamin C

Other tips:

• Smoking increases vitamin C needs

• Supports Blood & Qi, especially post-illness

• Cook gently to preserve C in food

Vitamin D

Helps: Bones, mood, immunity

Foods:

• Fatty fish (salmon, sardines)

• Egg yolks

• Mushrooms (UV-exposed)

• Fortified foods

Supplements:

• D3 (cholecalciferol) - blood test may guide dosage

• Often combined with K2 for bone health

Other tips:

• Get sunlight on skin without suncream (15–30 min daily, depending on skin tone, latitude). Ensure sunlight is on face, neck or legs - mid-day sun is best.

• NHS suggests that in winter months in the UK, an effort needs to be made to supplement Vit D through diet due to low levels of sunlight

• Tonify Kidney Yang/Jing with warming foods (lamb, black beans, walnuts)

  
  

Vitamin E

Helps: Antioxidant, nerves, skin

Foods:

• Sunflower seeds

• Almonds

• Avocado

• Spinach

• Olive oil

Supplements:

• Natural form: d-alpha tocopherol

Other tips:

• Needs fat for absorption

• Nourish Liver Yin & Blood with healthy oils and greens

  
  

Vitamin K

Helps: Blood clotting, bone health

Foods:

• Leafy greens (kale, spinach, parsley) – K1

• Natto (fermented soy) – K2

• Broccoli, Brussels sprouts

Supplements:

• K2 (MK-7 form), especially for bone/cardiovascular health

Other tips:

• Long-term antibiotics disrupt gut flora that produce K

• Combine with Spleen-strengthening foods like sweet potatoes and grains

Visit benelliot.co.uk/blog for more posts.