office_hours:vitamins:start
This is an old revision of the document!
OfficeHours: Series: Vitamins & Minerals
This series is the micronutrient backbone of internal medicine and primary care: Anemia, Neuropathy, Bone Health, Refeeding Syndrome, CKD, Alcohol Use, Malabsorption, and Drug Interactions.
What You’ll Learn
- Why deficiencies happen (absorption vs intake vs loss)
- How to differentiate macrocytic vs microcytic anemia
- Why magnesium controls potassium
- How fat-soluble vitamins behave differently from water-soluble
- Why some deficiencies mimic neurologic disease
- How drugs create nutrient problems
You’ll stop memorizing random deficiencies and start recognizing clinical patterns.
Episodes
Episode 1 — The Micronutrient Framework (Big Picture)
📄 Download Slides (PDF)
Download Slides (PDF)
Episode 2 — Anemia & B Vitamins (B9 vs B12 vs Iron)
📄 Download Slides (PDF)
Download Slides (PDF)
Episode 3 — Bone & Electrolyte Micronutrients (Ca, D, Mg, Phos)
📄 Download Slides (PDF)
Download Slides (PDF)
Episode 4 — Refeeding, Alcohol, and Drug-Induced Deficiencies
📄 Download Slides (PDF)
Download Slides (PDF)
High-Yield Clinical Framework
| Pattern | Think About | Classic Causes | Clinical Clue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macrocytic anemia | B12 vs Folate | Vegan diet, metformin, malabsorption | Neuropathy = B12 |
| Microcytic anemia | Iron | Menstrual loss, GI bleed | Low ferritin |
| Neuropathy | B12, B6, Copper | Alcohol, metformin | Posterior column signs |
| Refractory hypokalemia | Magnesium | Diuretics, diarrhea | Replace Mg first |
| High INR (no warfarin) | Vitamin K deficiency | Antibiotics, malabsorption | Easy bruising |
| Confusion in alcohol use | Thiamine | Chronic alcohol | Give before glucose |
Most micronutrient problems are not dietary — they are absorption, medication, or chronic disease related.
Why This Matters Clinically
- Prevent misdiagnosing B12 neuropathy as MS
- Prevent worsening Wernicke’s by giving glucose first
- Recognize copper deficiency after bariatric surgery
- Understand why chronic PPI use can cause anemia
- Identify refeeding syndrome early
Related
office_hours/vitamins/start.1771206105.txt.gz · Last modified: by andrew2393cns