The lack of vitamin A in the body is mainly reflected in eye health, which can lead to eye problems such as xerophthalmia or night blindness, as this vitamin is very important for the production of certain visual pigments that allow us to see the entire spectrum of light. .
However, in addition, a lack of vitamin A can also cause skin problems, weakening of the immune system, delayed growth and reproductive problems.
The damage caused by a lack of vitamin A is reversible in most cases, and treatment with vitamin A supplementation and increasing its food sources in the diet is necessary.
10 consequences of a lack of vitamin A
Vitamin A deficiency can cause some problems such as:
1. Xeroftalmia
Xerophthalmia is a progressive disease where there is an increase in the tissue that covers the eye and dryness of the external surface of the eye, which can cause blindness.
The main symptoms include burning eyes, difficulty seeing in darker environments and the sensation of dry eyes.
As xerophthalmia progresses, lesions and ulcers may appear on the cornea that manifest as small white spots on the eye, known as Bitot spots, which, if left untreated, can cause blindness. Find out more about this complication and how it is treated.
Don’t ignore the signs your body is giving you!
2. Night blindness
Night blindness is a complication of xerophthalmia, in which the person has difficulty seeing in low-light environments, especially when moving from a bright place to a darker place.
However, people with this problem can have completely normal vision during the day.
The difficulty caused by night blindness typically arises when levels of one of the retinal receptor pigments, known as rhodopsin, are too low, affecting the eye’s ability to process objects in low light.
Rhodopsin production is generally regulated by the amount of vitamin A. See how to identify night blindness.
3. Thick, dry skin
A lack of vitamin A can produce follicular hyperkeratosis, which is when the skin’s hair follicles become clogged with plugs of keratin, a type of protein, making the skin thicker.
This change causes the skin to have a “chicken skin” appearance, as well as becoming drier, scalier and rougher.
Hyperkeratosis typically begins on the forearms and thighs, but over time it can spread to all parts of the body.
4. Growth delay
Low levels of vitamin A in the body can cause developmental delays in children, as it is an important vitamin for bone growth.
Furthermore, vitamin A deficiency can also cause changes in taste and smell, causing food to lose its flavor, which leads the child to want to eat less, ultimately hindering development and growth.
5. Fertility problems
Vitamin A is necessary for both male and female reproduction, as well as for the proper development of the baby during pregnancy.
Furthermore, the lack of this vitamin appears to be related to the occurrence of spontaneous abortions.
6. Weakening of the immune system
The immune system can be weakened when there is a lack of vitamin A in the body, as the lack of this vitamin affects the functioning of T cells, which are important cells of the immune system that help fight and prevent infections caused by microorganisms.
7. Frequent infections
By decreasing the function of the immune system, a lack of vitamin A increases the risk of various bacterial, viral or parasitic infections, especially respiratory, urinary or gastrointestinal infections.
8. Difficulty healing
Vitamin A also acts in the collagen production process and, therefore, its lack in the body can impair wound healing, for example.
9. Increased risk of cancer
Vitamin A deficiency can increase the risk of developing cancer, as this vitamin participates in the genetic regulation of cells, in addition to being involved in the proliferation, differentiation and formation of cells in the body.
Furthermore, vitamin A has an antioxidant action that prevents damage caused by free radicals in cells and, therefore, its deficiency can increase the risk of developing cancer.
10. Measles complications
Vitamin A deficiency can increase the risk of serious complications from measles in children, such as blindness, airway obstruction, pneumonia or encephalitis, as this vitamin is important for the body to fight infections.
Therefore, vitamin A supplementation in children may be recommended by the pediatrician for the treatment of measles to avoid complications that can be life-threatening.
Read too: Measles vaccine: when to take it and possible side effects
What can cause a lack of vitamin A
The main causes of vitamin A deficiency are:
- Low intake of foods rich in vitamin A;
- Frequent intestinal infections;
- Pancreas insufficiency;
- Chronic liver disease;
- Excessive and/or frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Furthermore, as vitamin A is fat-soluble, if there is poor absorption of fats in the intestine, as in cases of bariatric surgery or inflammatory bowel diseases, it is also possible that the vitamin is not well absorbed from food.
How to confirm a lack of vitamin A
A lack of vitamin A can be suspected by a pediatrician or general practitioner, in children and adults who are malnourished or in people who have risk factors.
Therefore, the doctor must evaluate the symptoms presented, in addition to requesting blood tests, such as serum retinol, where values below 20 mcg/dL indicate a lack of vitamin A in the body, and values below 10 mcg/dL, indicate serious deficiency.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of a lack of vitamin A must be carried out under the guidance of a pediatrician or general practitioner, in order to increase vitamin A levels in the body and reduce the risk of mortality.
1. Eat foods rich in vitamin A
The pre-formed vitamin is only found in foods of animal origin, in storage locations, that is, in the liver and in the fat of eggs and milk.
A large amount of this vitamin is also found in cod liver oil.
However, there are also foods of plant origin that contain carotenoids, which are precursors of vitamin A and which are found mainly in dark green vegetables or yellow-orange fruits, such as carrots, spinach, orange juice , sweet potatoes, among others. See a more complete list of foods rich in vitamin A.
These foods should be consumed according to the nutritionist’s guidance to ensure the adequate amount of vitamin A for the individual’s daily needs.
2. Take vitamin A supplementation
Vitamin A supplementation should be guided by a doctor or nutritionist, as the dose will depend on age, weight and general health.
In general, in adults, it is common to administer 3 doses of 200,000 IU. Children under 1 year old should receive half this dose, and babies under 6 months old should only receive a quarter of the dose.
In some cases, vitamin A supplementation can be done with cod liver oil as, in addition to containing an excellent amount of this vitamin, it also contains vitamin D, omega 3, iodine and phosphorus, which are important for all child development.
Read too: Arovit: what it is for, how to use it and side effects
