Importance of Vitamin A-Rich Foods: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

What is Vitamin A?

Vitamin A is an essential vitamin for human health. It plays a role in bone growth, reproduction, and cell division, and is important for vision and the immune system. Plant sources of vitamin A include baked sweet potato, boiled spinach, raw carrots, raw cantaloupe, raw mango, and raw sweet red peppers. These foods provide vitamin A carotenoids, a type of vitamin that the body can use to create inflammatory chemicals called retinoids.

In animals, vitamin A is found in beef liver, ricotta cheese, Atlantic herring, and fat-free or skim milk with vitamin A added.

Vitamin A deficiency causes symptoms such as night blindness, xerophthalmia (dry eyes), poor night vision, delayed growth in children, xerophthalmia (dry eyes), and blindness in those who are unable to access enough of the nutrient on a consistent basis. It can also cause skin problems such as dryness and scaly skin due to a reduced ability of the body to produce keratins and ceramides.

To prevent vitamin A deficiency and its symptoms, it’s essential for pregnant women and children to consume vitamin A-rich foods and supplements regularly.

What are the different forms of vitamin A?

Vitamin A exists in a number of forms, including preformed vitamin A, provitamin A carotenoids, and active retinal and retinoic acid. Preformed vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin prevalent in animal products such as liver, fish, and dairy. This form of vitamin A is obtained through diet or can be obtained by supplementation.

Provitamin A carotenoids are a group of pigments found in plants and animals that the body can use to make vitamin A. These forms of vitamin A are usually found in fruits and vegetables. Examples of provitamin A carotenoids include beta-carotene and alpha-carotene. The body converts these carotenoids into a usable form of vitamin A for vision and skin health.

Vitamin A is also found in active retinal and retinoic acid, which is produced by the metabolism of vitamin A. Vitamin A is present in many of the same foods as preformed vitamin A, but it’s important to note that not all sources of vitamin A are equal.

What Are the Symptoms of Vitamin A Deficiency?

1. Dry Skin

Vitamin A deficiencies can lead to a host of symptoms, including dry skin, which can manifest as dryness patches, eczema, and itchy skin. While vitamin A deficiencies are most common in young children in developing countries, they can also be a severe health concern in adults. Dry skin is a common symptom of vitamin A deficiency, so addressing it with a supplement can help reduce the prevalence of eye problems by up to 63%. (1)

Vitamin A is responsible for creating and repairing skin cells, so a lack of this vitamin can lead to a decrease in the production of new cells and a loss of healthy skin. By addressing vitamin, A deficiencies through supplementation or dietary intake can help prevent the prevalence of dry skin and other symptoms associated with this health issue.

2. Dry Eyes

Dry eyes are a common vitamin deficiency that can lead to a number of health complications, such as blindness and corneal ulcers. In severe cases, dry eyes can even result in blindness or dying corneas, which are characterized by spots called bigot’s spots a disease caused by deficiency of vitamin A. These spots are a sign of vitamin A deficiency and are indicative of a serious condition.

The symptoms of dry eyes vary depending on the severity of the disease. Children who consume a diet low in vitamin A are most at risk of developing dry eyes. However, dry eyes can also occur when vitamin intake is sufficient, but a person is deficient in other nutrients or has a health condition that limits absorption or storage of vitamin A.

Night blindness is a common vitamin A deficiency symptom that commonly manifests as a difficulty seeing in dim light or darkness. (2)

3. Infertility and Trouble Conceiving

Vitamin A deficiency can cause infertility in both men and women. While vitamin A deficiency primarily affects a woman’s fertility, vitamin A deficiency can also affect a man’s ability to have children. In both men and women, vitamin A deficiency may lead to miscarriage, a delayed growth rate in children, and a risk of infections that can be fatal for pregnant women.

A lack of vitamin A in a pregnant woman’s system can cause complications in the fetus, such as blindness and damage to the heart and urinary system. Additionally, vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy may increase the risk of premature birth or complications for the newborn, such as blindness or severe disease. (3)

Without enough vitamin A in their bodies, women may experience difficulty conceiving a child or experiencing miscarriages due to low levels of this crucial vitamin.

4. Throat and Chest Infections

A symptom of vitamin A deficiency may be frequent infections, particularly in the neck or chest. While research findings are varying, vitamin A pills may assist with respiratory tract illnesses. In addition, high blood levels of the provitamin A carotenoid beta-carotene have been linked to decreased respiratory infections in older people, according to one research.

5. Poor Wound Healing

Deficiency of vitamin A causes poor wound healing due to delayed blood clotting and reduced production of antibodies to heal the wounds. In addition, vitamin A is required for the growth and healing of skin cells, which can lead to inflammation from skin problems. Vitamin deficiencies can also lead to delayed wound healing and an increased risk of infection.

Causes of Vitamin A Deficiency

• Lack of vitamin A in the diet
• Liver disorder
• Chronic diarrhea
• Pancreatic disorders
• Zinc and Iron deficiency

How is Vitamin A deficiency diagnosed?

There are several tests to diagnose vitamin A. A blood test is the most common way to diagnose vitamin A deficiency. Night blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency can be diagnosed by an eye test called electroretinography. This test involves examining light sensing cells of the retinas. The test measures the response of your retinas to flashes of light. Vitamin A deficiency can be confirmed if the symptoms start to improve after taking a vitamin A supplement.

Vitamin A Deficiency Treatment

Preventing VAD begins with a healthy diet that includes green leafy vegetables, vitamin-enriched milk products, and fortified foods.  Also, vitamin A supplementation can be provided through oral supplementation with retinol (vitamin A) or palmitate (a form of vitamin A).

If a person’s vitamin A intake is inadequate but their vitamin D intake is adequate, vitamin A may not be obtained from the diet. In this case, a person could supplement vitamin A through a vitamin supplement or dietary intake of carotene (a provitamin carotenoid).

Finally, if a person’s vitamin A intake is inadequate but their beta-carotene intake is adequate, vitamin A may not be obtained from carotene due to its conversion to vitamin A in the liver. In this case, a person could supplement vitamin A through a vitamin supplement or dietary intake of beta-carotene.

If a person has symptoms of VAD and cannot obtain enough vitamin A from their diet or supplement intake, they should consult a doctor.

Conclusion

Vitamin A deficiency is a very common vitamin deficiency that affects a large number of children every year. It can be a result of a lack of vitamin A-rich foods, or a dietary deficiency of vitamin A. Children are more likely to become vitamin A-deficient than adults, as their diets tend to be lower in vitamin A-rich foods and vegetables.

Vitamin A deficiencies can cause a wide range of symptoms, including night blindness and severe diarrhea. In severe cases, vitamin deficiencies can even lead to death. Treatment involves supplementing vitamin A-rich foods, supplements, or drinking vitamin A-fortified breast milk.