Vitamin A is one of the most beneficial vitamins for one’s health and proper functioning of the body. Not only is it beneficial for overall body beauty but it also plays an important role in fighting various diseases and in preventing and slowing down degeneration processes.
Who Can Be Affected With Vitamin A Deficiency
In western world and highly developed countries vitamin A deficiency is commonly rare because majority of foods people consume are rich with vitamin A. Pre-school children and people who do not consume enough proteins may suffer from vitamin A deficiency. This is also a large problem for people living in undeveloped and developing countries usually due to poor diet. Some diseases of the digestive tract such are Crohn’s disease and Celiac disease can be responsible for the vitamin A deficiency. Other people who might suffer this condition are vegans, alcoholics, smokers and women who take birth control pills.
Body Parts Affected By Vitamin A Deficiency
If our body doesn’t receive enough vitamin A, the following body parts will be affected:
- Soft tissues
Signs And Symptoms Of Vitamin A Deficiency
If one’s body lacks vitamin A he or she will experience certain health problems. Most common ones are:
Vitamin A Deficiency And Our Eyes
- Night blindness. It is a condition where people who actually have good sight start seeing objects dimly because of the lack of vitamin A which is responsible for production of certain eye pigment.
- Conjunctivitis. It is inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye
- Xerophthalmia. It is abnormal dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea of the eyes.
- Color-blindness. Vitamin A is one of the crucial vitamins for one’s vision.
- Keratomalacia. It is a condition of softening and drying and ulceration of the cornea.
- Photophobia. People who suffer photo phobia have sensitive eyes and they fear from strong light.
- Complete sight loss. Sometimes people who do not take enough vitamin A may suffer sight loss.
Hair And Nail Deficiency Symptoms
- Dry Hair. If one experiences vitamin A deficiency his or her hair becomes dry.
- Peeling Nails. Peeling nails show overall health problems.
- Ridges on nails. Lack of vitamin A may cause longitudinal ridges on nails.
Vitamin A Deficiency And Our Skin
- Skin Acne. Vitamin A deficiency doesn’t cause acne but it can make existing acne condition worse. However vitamin A consumption and usage is extremely beneficial for acne treating.
- Infections of the skin. People who do not take enough vitamin A may experience infection of the skin such are boils, cold sores and so on…
- Scleroderma. Scleroderma is hardening and swelling of skin.
- Dry Skin. Deficiency of vitamin A can cause extreme skin dryness, skin aging and wrinkles.
- Skin cancer. Vitamin A is one of those vitamins that protect skin from skin cancer.
Other Symptoms Of Vitamin A Deficiency
- Reproductive problems
- Slow development of bones and faulty teeth
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Weak immune system
- Rapid weight loss
- Loss of smell, taste or appetite.
The effects of vitamin A deficiency are very serious, especially for children.
How Can We Prevent Vitamin A Deficiency
In order to prevent vitamin A deficiency every person should consume enough vitamin A trough food or various supplements. Foods that are particularly rich in vitamin A are
- Milk and dairy products
- Vegetables such are asparagus, broccoli, chili peppers, carrots, spinach, pumpkin and yellow squash, sweet potatoes etc…
- Fruits such are apricots, cantaloupe, grapefruits, watermelons, mangoes, papaya, oranges and peaches.
Vitamin A can be consumed through supplements and various products. However it is always better to take vitamins through food because in that way they can be better absorbed. Another way to absorb vitamin A better is by taking it with fatty foods or together with vitamin E or zinc.
Doses Of Vitamin A That Should Be Taken Daily
We should take vitamins on a daily basis but there are certain doses of each vitamin we can take every day. Children from 1 to 3 years of age can take up to 300 micrograms of vitamin A. Children between 4 and 8 years should take 400 micrograms and those aging from 9 to 13 can take 600 micrograms of vitamin A daily. Adult men can take 900 micrograms while adult women can take up to 700 micrograms of vitamin A. Pregnant women can take 770 micrograms of vitamin A. Too much of vitamin A may result in nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headache. If one consumes very large amounts of vitamin A he may be prone to liver abnormalities and osteoporosis.