Diseases Caused by Deficiency of Vitamin A

• Deficiency of Vitamin A is the leading cause of blindness in children. It also increases the risk of disease and death from severe infections.
• Vitamin A deficiency may lead to low immunity against infections
• Lack of Vitamin A can also cause weak bones and teeth.

What Is Vitamin A?

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a vital role in maintaining body growth, vision, immune function and reproductive health. Consuming adequate amounts of vitamin A in the diet prevent the deficiency of vitamin A. On the other hand, lack of vitamin A may cause skin problems, hair loss, dry eyes, night blindness and increased susceptibility to certain diseases. Vitamin A is also essential for many metabolic processes. It helps keep the eyes clear, vision strong, and the skin glowing. Other than this, Vitamin A also aids in lung health and bone formation.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin A Deficiency?

The common symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include:

• dry, thickened conjunctiva and cornea
• keratinised growths (metaplasia) on the conjunctivae causing hazy vision
• corneal erosions and ulceration

Vitamin A deficiency can also be identified by its keratinising effect on the skin and mucous membranes.

• dry, scaly, thickened skin with prominent follicular scale
• dry lips and thickened tongue
• keratinisation of the urinary, gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts
• impaired immunity leading to digestive and respiratory tract infections

growth retardation in children

Causes of Vitamin A Deficiency

Lack of vitamin A can lead to some severe health issues. Below are some critical pointers of direct and indirect causes of vitamin A deficiency.

• Certainly, the most common reason behind Vitamin A deficiency is malnutrition. People who consume fewer animal foods generally are at risk of this deficiency. Some vegetables and animal food products are a rich source of Vitamin A.
• Over excretion of urine is also causes Vitamin A deficiency. Immense excretion can be caused by cancer, tuberculosis, pneumonia, UTI, and nephritis.
• Newborns get a good amount of Vitamin A from breast milk. Therefore, if children are not breastfed, they are at risk of developing Vitamin A deficiency.
• In most cases, if a lactating or pregnant mother lacks Vitamin A, then the newborn is likely to be vitamin A deficient as well.
•  Low absorption of vitamin A by the body is another cause of the deficiency. It can be due to cirrhosis, sprue, celiac disease, giardiasis, cystic fibrosis, obstructive jaundice, or excessive use of mineral oil as a laxative.
• Other than this, vitamin A deficiency can also be due to lack of storage ability. Besides, a hepatic disease also causes vitamin A deficiency.

Diseases Caused by Lack of Vitamin A

Here are some VAD related health problems to be aware of: Night Blindness Vitamin A and proteins called opsins work together to develop a light-sensitive pigment called rhodopsin in human bodies. When the body lacks vitamin A, it stops the production of rhodopsin, leading to visual impairment in dark surroundings. Kids aged 2–6 years, pregnant and lactating women are most prone to be affected by night blindness. Corneal Ulcers Lack of vitamin A, if not treated quickly, can lead to the formation of ulcers in the cornea. It usually looks like that a part of the cornea has dissolved. The ulcer caused due to the deficiency may further cause a secondary infection that making the eye appear highly inflamed. Children aged 1–4 years are most prone to this condition. Measles Measles is a highly infectious disease caused by the rubeola virus. According to WHO, another major cause of children contracting measles is vitamin A deficiency (VAD). It can possibly lead to complications, including pneumonia. In fact, sometimes, the infection gets severe enough to be fatal. However, enough intake of vitamin A can cut down the period of the disease and may reduce the severity of the symptoms. Moreover, it can also reduce the risk of death. The WHO suggests that all children with measles should consume two doses of vitamin A, 24 hours apart. Diarrhoea Do VAD and the resulting low immunity make children susceptible to prolonged diarrhoea infections? Or do recurrent diarrhoea infections lead to weakening absorption of vitamin A from food? Most likely, this is a loop, with one feeding off the other. As per research, diarrhoea is one of the leading causes of death in children. However, the intake of Vitamin A in a decent amount every six months can reduce the mortality rate.

How to Overcome Deficiency of Vitamin A?

Eat carrots! Have more spinach! Drink milk! These are some strict instructions every child hears while growing up. And, thanks to the parents who keep insisting on consuming the foods. These and many other foods are rich in vitamin A that helps in providing a nutritious diet. If still an individual suffers from lack of Vitamin A, these staples can help in overcoming the deficiency.

• Sweet potato — a medium, baked or cooked potato contains 21,907 international units (438% DV)
• Spinach — one cup raw of spinach includes 2,813 international units (56 % DV)
• Carrots — 1 medium raw carrot contains 10,190 international units (204% DV)
• Dried apricots — an ounce of dried apricots hold 1,009 international units (20% DV)
• Broccoli — 1 cup raw broccoli contains 567 international units (11% DV)
• Butter — a tablespoon of butter holds 350 international units (7% DV)
• Egg yolks — 1 large egg contains 245 international units (5% DV)

Other healthy vitamins A foods include cantaloupe, green peas, red bell peppers, whole raw milk (full-fat) and cheeses, mangos, tomatoes, papaya, peaches, cod liver oil, oatmeal, and spices/herbs like basil and paprika. Vitamin A deficiency can be harmful if it is not met timely. Therefore, it is always great to follow a healthy diet that includes food rich in vitamins and nutrients. Moreover, a standard intake of vitamin A-rich foods can easily help overcome the deficiency. Make sure the body can soak up the vitamin. Consult a nutrition expert for a customised diet plan.