Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is required for many bodily functions that is why Vitamin A deficiency can effect vision, immunity, reproduction, and skin health. Vitamin A comes in two forms in foods: preformed and provitamin A. While vitamin A deficiency is rare in developed countries, it affects a large number of people in developing nations.
Deficiency is most prevalent in pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, infants, and children. Cystic fibrosis and chronic diarrhoea can exacerbate the deficiency. You should be aware of the following eight vitamin A deficiency signs and symptoms.
Dry Skin
Vitamin A is necessary for skin cell formation and repair. It also aids in the reduction of inflammation caused by certain skin conditions. It’s possible that a lack of vitamin A is to blame for the development of eczema and other skin conditions.
Eczema is a dry, itchy, and inflamed skin condition. Several clinical studies have shown that alitretinoin, a vitamin A-based prescription medication, is effective in treating eczema.
Dry Eyes
Some of the most well-known side effects of vitamin A deficiency are vision problems. In severe cases, not getting enough vitamin A can result in total blindness or dying corneas, which are marked by Bitot’s spots.
One of the first signs of vitamin A deficiency is the inability to produce tears, also known as dry eyes. Dry eyes are most common in young children in India, Africa, and Southeast Asia, whose diets are deficient in vitamin A. Vitamin A supplementation can help with this problem.
Infertility
Both male and female reproduction, as well as proper infant development, require vitamin A. One of the reasons you’re having trouble getting pregnant could be a lack of vitamin A.
Vitamin A deficiency can lead to infertility in both men and women. According to studies, female rats with vitamin A deficiency have trouble conceiving and may have embryos with birth defects.
Throat and Chest Infections
Vitamin A deficiency can cause frequent infections, especially in the throat and chest. Supplementing with vitamin A may help with respiratory infections, but the evidence is mixed.
According to an Ecuadorian study, underweight children who received 10,000 IU of vitamin A per week had fewer respiratory infections than those who received a placebo.
Poor Wound Healing
Low vitamin A levels may be linked to wounds that do not heal well after an injury or surgery. This is because vitamin A encourages the production of collagen, an important component of healthy skin. Studies have shown that vitamin A, both oral and topical, strengthens skin.
A study found that giving rats vitamin A helped them produce more collagen. The vitamin had the same effect on the rats even though they were on steroids, which can slow wound healing.
Acne and Breakouts
Vitamin A may help prevent or treat acne by promoting skin development and reducing inflammation. Acne has been linked to low vitamin A levels in several studies. Isotretinoin, also known as Accutane, is the most well-known form of oral vitamin A used to treat acne. Although this medication is effective at treating acne, it has a number of negative side effects, including mood swings and birth defects.
Night Blindness
Night blindness can be caused by a severe vitamin A deficiency. A high prevalence of night blindness has been reported in several observational studies in developing countries. Because of the severity of the problem, doctors have been working to raise vitamin A levels in people who are at risk of night blindness. Women suffering from night blindness were given vitamin A in the form of food or supplements in one study. Both types of vitamin A helped to improve the situation.
Final Notes
Vitamin A deficiency is common in developing countries, but not so much in the US and other developed countries. A lack of vitamin A can lead to skin inflammation, night blindness, infertility, slow growth, and respiratory infections. If you believe you may be deficient in vitamin A, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider. With the right foods and supplements, resolving a deficiency is simple.
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FAQ’s
What is the most important symptom of vitamin A deficiency?
One of the first signs of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness. Vitamin A deficiency contributes to blindness in its more severe forms by making the cornea very dry, causing damage to the retina and cornea.
How can a vitamin A deficiency be remedied?
Eating vitamin A-rich foods, such as liver, beef, oily fish, chicken, eggs, fortified milk, carrots, mangoes, sweet potatoes, and leafy green vegetables, is used to treat mild forms of vitamin A deficiency.
Is it possible to take vitamin A on a daily basis?
Only pre-formed vitamin A is included in the maximum daily dose. When taken in doses greater than 10,000 units (3,000 mcg) per day, pre-formed vitamin A may be dangerous.
