Vitamin A is an important antioxidant which is fat-soluble and promotes the immune system. Helping gene protection and error-free copying, Vitamin A can be obtained from foods of both herbal and animal origin. In addition to colored fruits and vegetables, it can be found in foods of animal origin such as liver and milk in abundant amounts. Vitamin A, deficiency causes problems like dry skin and eyes, increased acne and pimple. It can even result in more serious conditions like night blindness and vision loss. Doctors mostly prescribe medications or supplements containing vitamins for the treatment of Vitamin A deficiency. Just the same way as its deficiency, its excessiveness is also harmful. High Vitamin A level is known to cause health problems like hair loss, fragile nails and fatty liver.
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What is Vitamin A?
Vitamin A is the first discovered vitamin of history. In 1913, it was considered to be growth factor, and in 1930, its chemical structure was described. It is mostly found in fatty acid ester form in foods. During digestion, it undergoes hydrolysis and absorbed freely. 90% of it is stored in liver, and the remaining 10% in other tissues. It acts as a hormone in the body. It is an essential vitamin for growth and development. Vitamin A can be in different forms. Preformed Vitamin A is mostly found in meat, fish and dairy products.
Provitamin A is found in vegetables and fruits. It is converted to Vitamin A by the body when necessary. Its overconsumption does not lead to a risk of toxicity. Being the precursor of Vitamin A, beta carotene is found in herbs. The active and circulating form of Vitamin A is called retinol. It is stored as retinyl palmitate in the body.
What does Vitamin A do?
- Vitamin A in retinol form contributes to the body’s effective defense mechanism against infections and illnesses.
- It helps proper functioning of the organs, mainly the heart, lungs and kidneys.
- It ensures the natural priming of the skin and some parts of body.
- It is an important vitamin for vision, reproduction, bone growth and differentiation, and cellular communication.
- It absorb the light in retina receptors, thereby, ensure retinal differentiation in addition to conjunctival membranes. For this reason, it is crucial for vision.
- Overconsumption of VitaminA may result in hypervitaminosis, i.e. toxicity.
Health benefits of Vitamin A
It affects various functions of the body. Its deficiency may result in many health problems like night blindness, dry skin, etc. Therefore, adequate intake is highly important.
Following is the list of benefits of adequate vitamin intake:
It reduces the risk of cancer
It taken from fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of getting lung cancer. A diet rich in beta carotene is protective against oral and lung cancer. Studies have shown that carotene is also protective against colon cancer. It is proven that some types of Vitamin A are protective against prostate cancer.
It is used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes
According to a study, retinoic acid, a derivative of Vitamin A, lowered and balanced the blood sugar in diabetic mice.
It is good for hair and skin
It promotes tissue growth and development. Contributing to sebum production, it maintain the humidity level of the skin and hair. It promotes formation of health hair and skin cells.
It facilitates night vision
It prevents vision problems like vision loss without any detectable reason and night blindness.
It fights with free radicals
Being a type of Vitamin A, carotenoid is a strong antioxidant. It fights with free radicals which are the excessive electrons in the cells, and it hinders these radicals harming the cells and DNA.
It is good for teeth and gingiva health
Adequate Vitamin A intake is important for healthy teeth and gingiva. Its deficiency may lead to tooth, gingiva and tooth bone deformations.
It promotes epithelial tissue formation
It is responsible for the production and repair of the epithelial tissues like intestines and skin. Its deficiency may result in problems in the gastrointestinal system and kidneys. It protects the health of mouth, stomach, small intestine and urinary tract tissues, and protects the epithelial tissues from infections.
It protects mucous membranes
It takes on the task of protecting mucous membranes of mouth, nose, lungs and throat.
What should we do for adequate Vitamin A intake?
Adequate Vitamin A intake is only possible with balanced diet. In addition to vegetables and fruits that are rich in it, foods of animal origin should also be consumed in adequate amounts. Recommended daily amount is as following:
- Up to 6 months 400 microgram/day,
- 7-12 months 500 microgram/day,
- 1-3 years 400 mcg/day,
- 4-8 years 400 mcg/day,
- 9-13 years 600 mcg/day,
- After 14 years 900 mcg/day in men,
- After 14 years 700 mcg/day in women,
- 770 mcg/day during pregnancy,
- 1300 mcg/day during breastfeeding
Vitamin A deficiency and causes
A diet that is not balanced for Vitamin A may result in its deficiency. In this case, the individual may experience many health problems, mainly night blindness. Premature infants, infants and children living in developing countries, breastfeeding and pregnant women in developing countries, and patients with cystic fibrosis are at risk.
Symptoms of Vitamin A deficiency
- Dry skin: Its deficiency underlies in many skin problems, particularly eczema. Many of the medications prescribed for the treatment of eczema contain alitretinoin as drug substance. The deficiency may also result in inflammatory skin problems.
- Dry eyes: Dry skin problem can be alleviated by using Vitamin A supplements.
- Epithelial tissue stiffness: Drying and gritty appearance on epithelial tissues usually suggests Vitamin A deficiency. Additionally, after epithelial tissue damage, the individual gets prone to eye, nose, sinus, mouth, urinary tract and lung infections.
- Acne and pimples: Fighting with the skin inflammation, it prevents acne and pimple formation. Its deficiency may result in increased acne and pimple.
Vitamin A deficiency diseases
Vitamin A deficiency may bring along many conditions such as unsatisfactory growth and development in children, weakened immune system, etc. Following is the list of the most important problems caused by Vitamin A deficiency:
Infertility
It is necessary for reproduction both in men and women. In case of vitamin deficiency, infertility may be seen in women and men. One of the main reasons of recurrent abortions in women is VitaminA deficiency.
Growth retardation
Children who cannot take adequate amounts of Vitamin A cannot grow expectedly. Shortness can be seen in children. Other than pudginess, developmental problems may also be seen.
Increased frequency of infections
The individuals may start to catch infections easier, mainly throat and chest infections. The main reason for this is the weakened immune system.
Non-healing wounds
One of the functions of Vitamin A is to promote collagen production in the skin. In case of Vitamin A deficiency, the healing period of the wounds gets prolonged. For diabetes sores, usually oral and topical medications containing Vitamin A are prescribed.
Does Vitamin A deficiency cause night blindness?
In patients with severe Vitamin A deficiency, night blindness may be seen. With advancing deficiency, korneal ulcer injury may occur. This may result in vision loss, i.e., blindness.
Is Vitamin A associated with fatty liver?
Vitamin A is stored in liver. When it is over-consumed, it may result in fatty liver. Additionally, excessive and regular Vitamin A supplement use may trigger fatty liver.
Vitamin A test
Eye examination is usually used for the detection of Vitamin A deficiency. The amount of Vitamin A in the blood can be measured by blood test. Your doctor may also review your medical history. He/she may ask you question to diagnose night blindness.
Treatment of Vitamin A deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency can be treated using Vitamin A supplements. The amount of supplement may vary based on age and sex. Night blindness can be treated using vitamin supplements. However, vision loss caused by corneal injury cannot be treated using supplements.
Vitamin A medications
Vitamin A medications can be in tablet and capsule form, as well as, in cream form for topical use. It derivatives are especially found in creams for pimple and acne treatment. Carovit and Avicap are the most commonly prescribed oral medications for the treatment of Vitamin A prescription.
Foods containing Vitamin A
Following is the list of foods rich in Vitamin A:
Retinol-containing foods
Known as A1, retinol is only found in foods of animal origin as liver, cheese, fatty fish, milk and butter. Cattle liver, liver sausage, lamb liver, salmon and mackerel, butter, cheese, caviar, trout and boiled egg are best retinol sources.
Vegetables and foods containing Provitamin A
Carotenoids in herbs are converted to Vitamin A in our body. Consisting of beta carotene and alfa carotene, provitamin A is converted to Vitamins A2 and A3. Sweet potato, broccoli, carrot, turnip, spinach, pepper, other dark green-leafy vegetables are the other vegetables containing VitaminA.
Fruits containing provitamin A
Mango, grapefruit, watermelon, apricot, mandarin and nectarine are some fruits rich in VitaminA.
Natural Vitamin A sources
Orange colored vegetables and fruits are especially rich in carotenoid and beta-carotene. Natural VitaminA sources are orange colored vegetables, mainly carrot and pumpkin and orange colored fruits such as melon.
Side effects of Vitamin A
- Yellowing, itchy and cracked skin
- Skin hypersensitivity to sunlight
- Vision changes, Short temper
- Double vision in small children
- Hair loss, greasy hair
- Fragility in nails
- Bone pain and swelling, weak bones
- Nausea, dizziness, vomiting, headache
- Weight gain or loss of appetite
- Fatigue, lack of energy
- Tooth and gingiva conditions
- Fatty liver
WARNING: Overconsumption of Vitamin A by pregnant women may cause fetal deformities. As ‘retinol’ is also found in anti-aging creams, pregnant women should avoid using retinol-containing creams. Beta carotene is not as dangerous as retinol. Vitamin A supplements carry the highest risk.
Vitamin A toxicity
When preformed Vitamin A is over-consumed with diet or with supplement use, the individual may suffer from It elevation. Tolerable upper level of intake is based on the age. Exceeding the upper level results in toxic effects.
