Vitamin A Deficiency

Vitamin A is a group of fat-soluble compounds that can be differentiated into two categories, depending on whether the food source is an animal or a plant:

Preformed vitamin A or retinol can be found in foods that come from animals. It is one of the most active forms of vitamin A.

Provitamin A carotenoid can be found in fruits and vegetables, and can be cleaved into retinol in the body. The carotenoid beta-carotene is most efficiently converted into retinol, making it an important vitamin A source.

A sufficient vitamin A (retinol) intake is essential for:

• the process of vision (especially night vision)

• growth and development: it is involved in the genetic regulation of cell and tissue formation, programming, and communication needed for reproduction and for the proper development of the embryo in the womb

• immune function: it helps to protect against infections by ensuring the effectiveness of mechanical barriers (e.g., skin), and increasing the production and efficacy of protective cells (e.g., lymphocytes)

• male and female reproductive organs

• normal cell differentiation

• a normal function of the immune system

• the maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes

• the maintenance of normal vision

• normal iron metabolism

Conditions / Diseases Risk

Eye and skin disease : High doses of vitamin A (retinol) supplements have been used successfully to treat an inherited eye disease (retinitis pigmentosa) and the symptoms of some severe skin disorders (psoriasis and acne).

Deficiency

Vitamin A deficiency usually results from inadequate intake of foods high in vitamin A or betacarotene, a precursor of vitamin A.

Groups at risk

Mainly pregnant and breast-feeding women, newborns, children with frequent infections, the elderly and people who avoid animal-derived foods face the problem of insufficient vitamin A supply.

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