Friday, January 27, 2012

How to Identify Vitamin A Deficiency?

Vitamin A is one of the most essential vitamins having a great role in various major activities. Vitamin A deficiency is nothing but, reduction of required amounts of vitamin A in the body. Deficiency of this vitamin causes many disorders – simple or complex. But, how do you know that you are suffering from vitamin A deficiency? Here are some symptoms which help identifying it.

Health of skin, hair, eyes, and immune system are affected with vitamin A deficiency. People suffering from insufficient amounts of this vitamin suffer from increased susceptibility to viral infections – most often measles, pneumonia, chicken pox, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Loss of appetite, bone abnormalities, and growth retardation are some other common symptoms identified with inadequate intake of vitamin A. Children with decreased levels of vitamin A are risky to develop respiratory and diarrheal infections. Decreased growth rate, slow bone development, and decrease likelihood of survival from serious illness are even evident in them.

One of the important functions of vitamin A is vision support. Prolonged deficiency of the vitamin causes night blindness. This is caused because of the impaired production of rhodopsin. Rhodopsin is a compound in the retina that detects small amounts of light. Severe deficiency causes xerophthalmia which is a condition characterized by changes to the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye. The deficiency even contributes to maternal mortality and other poor outcomes in pregnancy and lactation. Hence, when you find any of these symptoms, consult your doctor to get immediate treatment. Include vitamin A-rich foods in your daily diet. Take vitamin A supplements to treat the disorders.


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