Fitness

When volunteers have stayed on diets lacking vitamin B2, the skin of the nose, chin, and forehead has taken on an oily appearance; tiny fatty deposits, like whiteheads, have accumulated under the skin. Cracks and fissures, like those formed at the corners of the mouth, have sometimes appeared in the corners of the eyelids; the lashes may stick together with an oily secretion, particularly on waking in the morning. Cracks and oily scabs may form at the base of the nose. I have rarely seen these symptoms or perhaps have failed to recognize them.

Such widely different animals as dogs, ducks, rats, chickens, monkeys, geese, and even fish, when put on diets lacking vitamin B2, develop cataracts. If the vitamin is given early enough, the cataracts disappear. When the deficiency is allowed to progress until it becomes severe, however, the damage can be arrested but not repaired. Blindness results if no vitamin is given. Whether or not an undersupply of vitamin B2 causes cataract in humans is controversial. Dr. Sydenstricker of the University of Alabama Medical School studied cataracts and opacities in the eyes of persons showing symptoms of multiple vitamin-B deficiency. When vitamin B2 was given in generous amounts together with an adequate diet, the eyes became normal, usually in about two weeks.

Bloodshot eyes and lip and tongue. abnormalities, characteristic of vitamin-B2 deficiency, have been produced in persons deficient in anyone of several amino acids or in vitamin Be. Animals lacking any one of these nutrients develop cataracts. These conditions can be corrected by supplying, not vitamin B2, but the missing nutrient. At first these facts were puzzling indeed. It must be remembered, however, that vitamin B2 in itself is of no importance; it is merely part of the structure of a number of enzymes. These same enzymes are largely protein made of essential amino acids, the lack of anyone of which can limit their production. It is now known that vitamin B6 is necessary to help combine the amino acids into the protein part of these enzymes. The reason symptoms usually disappear when vitamin Bs is given is that this vitamin is more often lacking than is adequate protein; vitamin B6 is usually given with the vitamin Bs. Conversely, if the symptoms do not disappear after vitamin Bs is made adequate, deficiencies of protein and/or vitamin B6 should be suspected. The deficiency symptoms are caused by a lack of enzymes rather than of any single nutrient. Such is the intricate relationship of many nutrients in the body and of multiple overlapping deficiencies. Milk or yogurt, supplying vitamin Bs, also furnishes vitamin B6 and essential amino acids; the yogurt offers protein in predigested form and a “factory” of hardworking bacteria willing to produce B vitamins for future needs.

I have had many persons report that, after their nutrition was improved, their glasses seemed no longer suited to their needs. On going to an oculist, they have been told that their eyes were much stronger than formerly. Such an improvement can be brought about only by a completely adequate diet, although vitamin Bs undoubtedly plays an important role. Good nutrition, however, cannot correct conditions for which glasses are needed.

Among elderly persons visual difficulties caused by multiple nutritional deficiencies are almost the rule rather than the exception. In all probability, such deficiencies are often responsible for failing vision so frequently accepted as .an inevitable part of growing older. I gave a series of lectures at a Women’s Club where most of the audience consisted of women sixty to eighty years old. On several occasions I tried without success to find one person in the audience who did not show symptoms of vitamin-Be deficiency. In this group was a sweet old lady of eighty whom I shall remember; her lower eyelids were so swollen that there appeared to be a half teaspoon of tears poised on each. She had given up reading, sewing, movies, and even television. Only two days after she improved her diet, she could read the newspaper. Later her delight at being able to sew for her grandchildren was touching.

It is important to realize that eyes can be improved during the later years when many activities are denied elderly persons. Under no circumstances should dim vision be accepted without making every effort to keep the nutrition adequate. Years ago Dr. Spies made a study of children whose families were too poor to buy milk. He found marked “oldage” symptoms including watery and burning eyes and failing vision which cleared quickly when the nutrition was made adequate and milk was supplied. The worst case I have seen was that of a three-year-old who had been given only soy milk. These visual symptoms are usually corrected in young and old alike by an increased intake of yogurt and/or milk, yeast, and liver. In cases of severely bloodshot eyes, it may be wise to ask your physician about taking vitamin B2 temporarily. Milk sugar, or lactose, appears to increase the need for vitamin B2 unless fat is adequate in the diet (p. 45). If a fat-free diet must be adhered to, the use of powdered milk and especially powdered whey should be restricted, particularly when symptoms of a vitamin-Be deficiency occur.

The signs of multiple nutritional deficiencies, perhaps most often caused by lack of vitamin B2, should not be taken lightly. The woman who may be proud of such high color that she need not wear rouge would be wise to inspect herself carefully in the mirror. Probably she should improve her diet with all possible speed.