I bruise very, very easily. Could this be a sign of vitamin deficiency? What else might cause this?

--Tammy

Deficiency in the B vitamins B-12 and folate may lead to a low platelet count and easy bruising and bleeding. Vitamin C deficiency (very, very uncommon) or excess vitamin E may cause the same thing.

In women, a disorder that casues easy bruising is an inherited condition called von Willebrand's disease. This disease is due to a lack of a certain factor important in the blood clotting process. A related disorder is factor IX deficiency; this more often causes bleeding after surgery or cuts rather than easy bruising. Excess intake of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (Motrin, Advil, Anaprox) may also lead to easy bruising.

For evaluation of your bruising, start with your family doctor or internist. That doctor will probably do some blood tests; if necessary, he or she can refer you to a hematologist, a specialist in blood disorders.