Deficiency of Carbohydrates: Symptoms, Causes, Diseases & Treatment

13 Signs & Symptoms of Carbohydrates Deficiency Diseases

Carbohydrates are the body's primary source of energy. The energy provided by the carbohydrate is in the form of glucose. As it is an essential part of human nutrition, it should not be excluded from the diet.

In case one’s body is carbohydrate-deficient, it will utilise fats and protein for energy. Ketosis is one such condition that falls under carbohydrate deficiency diseases. It occurs when glycogen in the human body is depleted

Carbohydrate Deficiency

Cause and Symptoms

Diagnosis of Deficiency

Food Sources

Daily Intake

Side Effects and Diseases Caused

Treatment and Prevention

Duration to Fix Deficiency

Who is at Risk?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Carbohydrate Deficiency?

You should include carbohydrates in your diet. They keep you energised and enable you to maintain your physical fitness. On the other hand, some people reduce their carb intake to lose weight, which causes the body to become low in carbohydrates. This is a dangerous medical condition that has the potential to develop into numerous illnesses.

When your body doesn't get any or very little carbohydrates from your regular meals, you have a carbohydrate deficit. Rice, wheat products, potatoes, lentils, fruits, and other starchy vegetables all contain carbohydrates. Cutting back on carbohydrates is a typical strategy used by people who want to lose weight.

How Common is Carbohydrate Deficiency?

With a balanced diet, carbohydrate deficiency is very uncommon in healthy people. However anyone who does not eat a balanced diet with the right amount of carbohydrates in it might also be affected by diseases related to carbohydrates. All-around health and well-being depend on a well-balanced diet that includes basic macronutrients, such as carbs.

13 Signs and Symptoms of Carbohydrate Deficiency

Carbohydrate deficiency diseases constitute a category of health conditions that occur due to a lack of carbohydrates present in the human body.

Most people avoid carbohydrates to avoid gaining weight. Skipping carbohydrates makes you prone to several carbohydrate deficiency diseases. The symptoms of carbohydrate deficiency are as follows:

Sr.No.	Symptom	Description
1.	Insufficient energy	Carbohydrates are the body's preferred energy source. Inadequate intake can lead to low energy levels and persistent fatigue.
2.	Low appetite	Carbohydrates play a role in stimulating appetite-regulating hormones. A deficiency may contribute to a reduced desire to eat.
3.	Nausea	Rapid drops in blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia), often due to insufficient carbohydrate intake, can cause nausea.
4.	Constipation	Carbohydrates, particularly those from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, provide fibre essential for digestive health. A lack of fibre can lead to constipation.
5.	Dizziness	Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy for the body, particularly for the brain and muscles. Cells, especially in the brain and muscles, may not have enough energy to function optimally, leading to feelings of dizziness and fatigue.
6.	Fatigue	Some carbohydrate rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, also provide essential electrolytes like potassium. Electrolytes help regulate fluid balance, muscle function, and nerve signalling. Inadequate intake of these foods can disrupt electrolyte balance, potentially leading to symptoms like dizziness and fatigue.
7.	Halitosis (Bad breath)	Inadequate carbohydrate intake can lead to the body breaking down fats for energy, which can produce ketones. Ketones can cause a distinctive fruity or acetone-like breath odour.
8.	Dehydration	Some carbohydrate-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, contain significant amounts of water. A deficiency in these foods can contribute to dehydration if not compensated by adequate fluid intake.
9.	Impaired Physical Performance	Carbohydrates are essential for fueling muscles during physical activity. Inadequate carbohydrate intake can lead to muscle fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance. Athletes often experience decreased performance when they do not consume enough carbohydrates because muscles cannot access glucose efficiently for energy.
10.	Mood Changes	Carbohydrates also play a role in serotonin production in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and appetite. Insufficient carbohydrate intake may lead to mood swings, irritability, and difficulty concentrating, contributing to feelings of fatigue and dizziness.
11.	Impaired Physical Performance	Carbohydrates are essential for fueling muscles during physical activity. Inadequate carbohydrate intake can lead to muscle fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance. Athletes often experience decreased performance when they do not consume enough carbohydrates because muscles cannot access glucose efficiently for energy.
12.	Malnutrition	Inadequate intake of complex carbohydrates, such as starches found in grains, legumes, and tubers, can lead to malnutrition. This deficiency may manifest as chronic fatigue, muscle wasting, and impaired immune function due to insufficient energy intake and nutrient diversity.
13.	Ketosis and Ketogenic Diets	Ketosis is a metabolic state where the body primarily burns fats for energy due to low carbohydrate intake. While this is deliberate in ketogenic diets, prolonged ketosis can lead to carbohydrate deficiency symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and brain fog due to inadequate glucose supply to the brain.

What are the Main Causes of Carbohydrate Deficiency?

Carbohydrate intolerance causes nutrient deficiency in the human body. There are two types: primary and secondary.

Primary intolerance takes place when one’s body lacks an enzyme due to some genetic defects since birth.
The secondary intolerance type occurs due to other diseases. Furthermore, intolerance for different carbohydrate-rich foods such as vegetables, beans, milk and fruits, leads to a deficiency of carbohydrates.

List of Diseases Caused by Carbohydrate Deficiency

The diseases caused due to a lack of carbohydrates in one’s body are

Sl. No.	Disease	Description
1.	Diabetes	When your blood glucose, commonly known as blood sugar, is too high, you develop diabetes.
2.	Galactosemia	Some newborns are born with the metabolic condition galactosemia. It is brought on by an issue with the enzymes that break down galactose, the sugar.
3.	Ketosis	Your body enters a metabolic condition known as ketosis when it starts using fat for energy rather than glucose. The ketogenic diet may help with weight loss, energy levels, and the treatment of chronic illnesses, among other things.
4.	Hunter Syndrome	Iduronate 2-sulfatase (IDS) deficiency causes Hunter syndrome, a genetically linked lysosomal storage disease.
5.	Hurler Syndrome	Hurler syndrome used to be called gargoylism. The lack of alpha-L-iduronidase, an enzyme that breaks down glycosaminoglycans (GAGs or mucopolysaccharides), results in this hereditary lysosomal illness.
6.	Mucopolysaccharidoses	A uncommon condition known as mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) occurs when the body lacks or is deficient in an enzyme that breaks down lengthy chains of sugar molecules. These molecular chains are known as glycosaminoglycans, which were once known as mucopolysaccharides.
7.	Mucolipidosis	Mucolipidosis I (ML I) is an uncommon genetic illness. Sialidosis is another name for mucolipidosis I. The ailment is categorised as an LSD (lysosomal storage disorder). Genetic differences cause these illnesses by impairing the regular function of lysosomes in human cells.
8.	Pompe Disease	A uncommon genetic disorder called Pompe disease results in progressive muscle weakening. It may seriously impact numerous bodily systems.

What are the Diagnosis of Carbohydrate Deficiency?

Diagnosis of carbohydrate deficiency can involve various methods depending on the specific condition suspected. Here are some common approaches

Sl. No.	Diagnosis	Description
1.	Clinical Symptoms	Symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and cognitive impairment can indicate carbohydrate deficiency. Observing these symptoms can be a first step in diagnosis.
2.	Dietary History	A detailed history of the patient's diet can reveal inadequate carbohydrate intake or malabsorption issues that could lead to deficiency.
3.	Blood Glucose Level	Fasting blood glucose levels can indicate whether there is sufficient carbohydrate intake. Low fasting glucose may suggest inadequate intake or utilisation of carbohydrates.
4.	HbA1c	This test gives an average of blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months, helping diagnose chronic carbohydrate deficiency or poor glycemic control.
5.	Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)	This test involves drinking a glucose solution after fasting, then measuring blood glucose levels at specific intervals. It helps diagnose conditions like diabetes mellitus or reactive hypoglycemia.
6.	Serum Insulin Level	Insulin levels can indicate how well the body is responding to glucose and can help diagnose conditions like insulin resistance or reactive hypoglycemia.
7.	Glycogen Storage Disorders	Enzyme assays or genetic testing may be required to diagnose rare disorders where glycogen synthesis or breakdown is impaired.
8.	Monitoring Ketone Bodies	In situations of severe carbohydrate deficiency (such as in ketogenic diets or starvation), monitoring ketone bodies in urine or blood can provide additional diagnostic information.

Diagnosis often involves a combination of these methods to understand the underlying cause and severity of carbohydrate deficiency accurately.

24 Best Food Sources to Overcome Carbohydrate Deficiency

Find out the best food sources high in carbohydrates to ensure adequate intake. Follow the lists given below.

Fruits to Overcome Carbohydrate Deficiency

Choose these fruits and add them to your daily diet to ensure carbohydrate intake regularly. Follow the table below

Sr.No.	Fruits	Nutritional Value
1	Apple (one)	25 gm
2	Pineapple (one cup)	22 gm
3	Mango (one cup)	25 gm
4	Raisins (one cup)	22 gm
5	Banana (one)	27 gm

Vegetables to Overcome Carbohydrate Deficiency

Try these vegetables in proper quantities to ensure adequate carbohydrate intake. The list below has various vegetables with carbohydrates

Sr.No.	Vegetables	Nutritional Value
1	Broccoli (one cup)	6 gm
2	Carrots (one cup)	12 gm
3	Corn (one cup)	30 gm
4	Sweet Potato (one cup)	27 gm
5	Beets (one cup)	13 gm
6	Parsnips (one cup)	23 gm
7	Brussels Sprouts (one cup)	12 gm
8	Zucchini (one cup)	3.5 gm
9	Butternut Squash (one cup)	21 gm

Other Eatables to Overcome Carbohydrate Deficiency

Apart from fruits and vegetables, these foods also have a high amount of carbohydrates. Go through the list below to choose your carbohydrate:

Sr.No.	Food Sources	Nutritional Value
1	Oats (one cup)	81 gm
2	Buckwheat (100 gm)	75 gm
3	Brown Bread (28 gm)	12 gm
4	Kidney beans (100 gm)	21.5 gm
5	Cooked chickpeas (100 gm)	27.4 gm
6	Brown rice (100 gm)	45.8 gm
7	Lentils (one cup)	39.8 gm
8	Low-fat Yoghurt (170 gm)	32 gm
9	Honey (1 tbsp)	17 gm
10	Nuts (144 grams)	32 gm

How Much Carbohydrate Do You Need Daily?

According to dietary standards, between 45% and 65% of daily calories should come from carbohydrates. Thus, of the 2,000 calories you consume daily, 900–1,300 should come from carbs. That translates to between 225 and 325 grams of carbs daily for adults.

No set amount of carbohydrates must be consumed nutritionally. However, the daily reference value for infants under twelve months is 95g, and for toddlers under four, it is 150 g.

Side Effects of Carbohydrate Deficiency

Carbohydrate deficiency can have significant long-term effects on overall health. Inadequate carbohydrate intake deprives the body of its primary source of energy, leading to persistent fatigue and reduced physical endurance.

Without sufficient carbs, the body may break down muscle tissue for energy, contributing to muscle loss over time. A deficiency in nutrients can weaken the immune system, impair cognitive function, and increase the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

Hormonal imbalances may also occur due to insufficient carbohydrates, affecting metabolism and mood regulation. Digestive health can suffer without enough fibre, potentially causing constipation and other gastrointestinal issues.

How to Treat and Prevent Carbohydrate Deficiency?

Aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, homoeopathy, acupuncture, juice therapy, osteopathy, and Chinese traditional herbal medicine are used to treat diseases caused by a carbohydrate deficiency.

Consuming starchy vegetables and carbohydrate-rich fruits can prevent such diseases. Diseases caused by the lack of carbohydrates can be prevented with an intake of 50 to 100 grams of carbs daily.

According to The Australian Dietary Guidelines, carbohydrates should produce 45-60% of the body's energy. A proper balance in the intake of carbohydrates and protein is essential. Therefore, carbs are essential for the human body and should be a part of the diet. Following these measures will help you prevent carbohydrate deficiency diseases.

How Long Does it Take to Fix Carbohydrate Deficiency?

Fixing a carbohydrate deficiency can vary in duration depending on the severity of the deficiency and individual factors. Once someone with a carbohydrate deficiency starts consuming adequate amounts of carbohydrates through their diet, the body can replenish its glycogen stores relatively quickly.

Consuming sufficient carbohydrates can replenish glycogen stores within hours to days. For long-term recovery and to ensure sustained health benefits, it's important to maintain a balanced diet that includes adequate carbohydrates regularly.

This supports overall energy levels, cognitive function, muscle preservation, and general well-being. Consulting with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian can provide personalised guidance on restoring carbohydrate balance based on individual health needs and goals.

Who is at Risk of Developing Carbohydrate Deficiency Diseases?

Individuals having obesity, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and gastrointestinal diseases are more prone to developing carbohydrate deficiency diseases. Moreover, these diseases are also inherited genetically.

Here are a few more examples of people who are at a high risk of developing Carbohydrate Deficiency

Sl. No.	People at Risk	Description
1	Athletes and Active Individuals	Those who engage in intense physical activity rely heavily on carbohydrates for energy. Carbohydrate deficiency can lead to decreased performance, fatigue, and impaired recovery.
2	Children and Adolescents	Growing children and teenagers have higher energy needs, and carbohydrates are essential for growth, development, and health. Insufficient carbs can impact growth and cognitive function.
3	Pregnant and Lactating Women	Carbohydrates are vital during pregnancy and lactation to support foetal development, maternal health, and milk production. Deficiency leads to complications for mother and child.
4	Elderly Individuals	Older adults may have decreased appetite or altered nutrient absorption, which leads to inadequate carbohydrate intake. This can affect energy levels, muscle mass, and health.
5	Individuals with Certain Medical Conditions	People with diabetes, metabolic disorders, or gastrointestinal disorders may need careful management of carbohydrate intake to maintain blood sugar levels or nutrient absorption.
6	Low-Income Populations or Food-Insecure Individuals	Those who have limited access to carbohydrate rich foods may be at risk of deficiency, which can impact overall health and well-being.
7	Individuals on Extremely Restrictive Diets	People following very low-carb or ketogenic diets may be at risk of inadequate carbohydrate intake if not managed properly, which can lead to nutrient deficiencies and health problems.

It's important to note that while carbohydrate deficiency is possible, it is relatively uncommon compared to other nutrient deficiencies in well-nourished populations. Most balanced diets naturally include sufficient carbohydrates to meet daily needs.

FAQs about Carbohydrate Deficiency

What is the most common carbohydrate deficiency disease?

Lack of carbohydrate can cause hypoglycaemia that can further lead to ketosis.

How can you increase carbohydrate intake and avoid carbohydrate deficiency diseases?

An individual can increase their carbohydrate intake by adding vegetables, fruits, cereals and dairy products in their daily diet.

What is carbohydrate deficiency?

Carbohydrate deficiency occurs when the body does not get enough carbohydrates to meet its energy needs.

What are carbohydrates and why are they important?

Carbohydrates are macronutrients that provide energy to the body. They are essential for fueling brain function, muscle movement, and overall cellular activities.

What are the symptoms of carbohydrate deficiency?

Symptoms may include fatigue, weakness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, headaches, and constipation.

What causes carbohydrate deficiency?

It can be caused by inadequate intake of carbohydrates in the diet, prolonged fasting or starvation, certain medical conditions, or following very low-carb diets.

How much carbohydrates should I consume daily?

The recommended daily intake varies based on factors such as age, sex, activity level, and overall health. Generally, carbohydrates should comprise 45-65% of total daily calories.

What happens if I don't consume enough carbohydrates?

Without enough carbohydrates, the body may break down protein and fat for energy, leading to muscle loss, nutrient deficiencies, and other health issues.

Can carbohydrate deficiency lead to weight loss?

Initially, it may lead to weight loss due to reduced calorie intake, but prolonged deficiency can lead to muscle loss and metabolic imbalances.

Are there different types of carbohydrates?

Yes, carbohydrates are classified into simple carbohydrates (sugars) and complex carbohydrates (starches and fibre). Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes provide healthier sources of carbohydrates compared to refined sugars.

Is it possible to have a carbohydrate deficiency on a vegetarian or vegan diet?

It's less likely but still possible if the diet lacks sufficient variety or quantity of plant-based carbohydrate sources.

How can I prevent carbohydrate deficiency?

By consuming a balanced diet that includes a variety of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes, you can ensure an adequate intake of carbohydrates.

What are the long-term effects of carbohydrate deficiency?

Long-term effects can include muscle loss, nutrient deficiencies, impaired cognitive function, hormonal imbalances, weakened immune system, and increased risk of chronic diseases.

Can carbohydrate deficiency affect exercise performance?

Yes, inadequate carbohydrates can lead to fatigue, reduced endurance, and impaired recovery after exercise.

Are there health conditions that require monitoring carbohydrate intake?

Yes, conditions such as diabetes, metabolic disorders, and certain gastrointestinal disorders may require careful monitoring of carbohydrate intake.

Is it possible to have too many carbohydrates?

Yes, excessive carbohydrate intake, especially from refined sugars and processed foods, can contribute to weight gain, insulin resistance, and increased risk of chronic diseases.

How can I know if I'm getting enough carbohydrates?

Monitoring your energy levels, physical performance, and overall well-being can provide clues. Consulting with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalised advice is recommended if you're unsure about your carbohydrate intake.

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