Personal Diet Analysis: Vitamins and Minerals 1
Personal Diet Analysis: Vitamins and Minerals
John Quinn
Liberty University
19 March 2023
Personal Diet Analysis: Vitamins and Minerals 2
Evaluation:
In looking at the past 5 day evaluation of my diet in regards to vitamins, it shows that my
levels on average for the week were lower than the suggested RDA with the exception of
Calcium. Although if this was to maintain its course overtime with these low levels on average, it
would lead into health concerns such as nerve damage (lack of Vitamin B12), potential
Osteoporosis due to lack of Vitamin D and its effect on calcium absorption, reduced immune
system function, as well as with my age an increase of cancer.2 This can all be congruent with my
exposure to so many things during my 20 years of military service and all the environmental
exposures I’ve endured.
Overall, I will not be changing my diet based off these numbers as they are not a weekly
representation of my intake of vitamins. I’ve been working to adjust my daily intake to meet as
much RDA as possible but to coincide with my weight loss plan. I know with my age that I am
moving into a bracket that will potentially require supplementation to acquire the RDA for
vitamins, minerals, protein, etc. that we’ve analyzed throughout this course. This weeks analysis
of my diet is lacking the energy drinks that I drink regularly, working to reduce and become less
dependent on, that are labeled as having a as having over 190% or more of the RDA for Niacin,
and vitamins B6 and B12. I wanted to see where I would be lacking this week on my vitamins
when it came to simple consumption from raw and cooked foods throughout the work week as
I’ve been working through meal preps.
Through the readings my interest was driven towards the subject of Celiacs Disease and
Inflammatory Bowel Disease as both are issues within my family. As we’ve seen labs come back
from exams regarding low amounts and the discussion of supplementation to reach the RDA,
Personal Diet Analysis: Vitamins and Minerals 3
the subject of either of these two affecting the absorption of vitamins was never brought up. In
the study conducted by Alkhouri, demonstrates that those diagnosed with IBD had a deficiency
in vitamins A, D, and zinc.4 Additionally, vitamins B12 and E were tested with the results showing
that a B12 deficiency could be masked due to the folate supplementation in grains within the
United States beginning in 1995.4 Overall, it was shown that B12 and folate were rare
deficiencies, vitamin A and zinc were more common, and a vitamin D deficiency was very
common. The vitamin D deficiency resulted in future discussion of future screening as well as
supplementation. In the study conducted on Celiacs Disease, the data showed that individuals
diagnosed with Celiacs Disease were most frequently deficient in a list of vitamins and minerals:
folic acid, B12, B6, A, D, and zinc.3 They showed that these patients also suffered from anemia
as well as iron=deficiency anemia.
Personally for my family this could answer a lot of questions in regards to a lot of issues
that would coincide with the compounding effects of these issues. The malabsorption of the
vitamins would suggest the reason or some of the low-level results along with possibly
explaining the iron-deficiency that has also been found over a period. Having more of an
education on these two conditions and their effects on how are body functions with the, or lack
of function, would have helped us with determining a more balanced diet earlier in time then
having to go through so many test and supplementation, on and off, over the years. All of this
information could have had the potential of reducing the symptoms of nausea, constipation,
fatigue, loss of appetite, and a long list of other issues over time as a potential result of the
compounding effects of these two conditions on the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins of
vitamin A, D, E and K. Life for my family members could’ve been a little smoother.
Personal Diet Analysis: Vitamins and Minerals 4
References
1. Kebles CA, Hemric M. Omega-Z Diet. Omega-Z Diet Books For Weight Loss (2nd ed.); 2022.
2. Blake, J. S., Munoz, K. D., & Volpe, S. (2019). Nutrition: From science to you (4th ed.).
Pearson Education Inc.
3. Wierdsma N, van Bokhorst-de van der Schueren M, Berkenpas M, Mulder C, van Bodegraven
A. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are highly prevalent in newly diagnosed celiac disease
patients. Nutrients. 2013;5(10):3975-3992. doi:10.3390/nu5103975
4. Alkhouri RH, Hashmi H, Baker RD, Gelfond D, Baker SS. Vitamin and mineral status in
patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology &
Nutrition. 2013;56(1):89-92. doi:10.1097/mpg.0b013e31826a105d
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