Therapy
In order to avoid a mineral deficiency in the first place, it is important to consume sufficient amounts of these minerals in the diet. The framework for this is provided by certain foods such as vegetables and fruit in a variety of ways and 1-2 fish dishes per week. A restrictive diet with regard to red meat and sausage also favours a balanced mineral balance.
When using table salt, reference should be made to iodized and fluoridated salt. Above all, fatty foods should rather be avoided. A sufficient drinking quantity with electrolyte-containing drinking water is also very important.
However, if a manifest mineral deficiency has occurred, there are several therapy options available. In principle, the individual diet should be reconsidered and, if necessary, adapted. External intake in tablet form (oral) is also possible.
This form of therapy represents an important pillar in the therapeutic procedure for the treating physician. In “home medicine” two methods should be mentioned. The intake of Schüssler salts has been a well-known procedure for decades. Twelve different salts and 15 supplements can be taken. In addition, drinking a glass of water with two tablespoons of apple vinegar and one teaspoon of honey is supposed to prevent a mineral deficiency.
Diagnosis
Usually unspecific symptoms lead the patient to the doctor. These are a feeling of lassitude, tiredness and loss of performance. The attending physician (usually a specialist in internal medicine) then generally prepares a blood count after a venous blood sample has been taken.
Using specific laboratory chemical procedures, the electrolyte concentrations in the blood can be determined and, if necessary, targeted treatment can be initiated promptly. It is always important to combine clinical symptoms with laboratory findings. In addition to blood analysis, a mineral deficiency can be detected with various other procedures, which are, however, less reliable from a medical point of view.
Prognosis
Even if a mineral deficiency causes diverse and serious physical symptoms, it can usually be easily remedied after balancing and therapy. It is important to combine these symptoms into a possible deficiency of one or more minerals. In this case a complementary therapy can be started promptly.
A decrease in physical symptoms can usually be achieved with optimal treatment. Thus, the mineral deficiency usually represents a reversible clinical picture. Purely physical causes (such as malassimilation due to chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases etc.) can also be treated by a substitution therapy or, if necessary, by interventional procedures.
