Vitamin A plays a very important role in the body, enhancing immune function, helping eyes stay healthy, body growth and increasing energy…
1. Warning signs of vitamin A deficiency in the body
– Dry skin: Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy skin. Deficiency can cause irritation and dryness of the skin and increase the risk of eczema… If you notice any unusual symptoms on your skin, you should consult a doctor.
– Poor eye health: Vitamin A is important for eye health and vision problems. Deficiency can cause night blindness, decreased vision and increased dry eye syndrome.
Vision can be impaired with vitamin A deficiency.
– Reduced growth: Children with vitamin A deficiency can affect their body’s development, slowing weight gain and height growth.
– Frequent infections: Vitamin A helps maintain and strengthen the body’s immune system. Therefore, when the body lacks this substance, it is easy to get sick…
– Fatigue: Vitamin A also helps regulate energy levels. A deficiency of this vitamin can cause fatigue, exhaustion and affect daily work.
– Rapid weight loss: Vitamin A deficiency can manifest in your body by rapid weight loss. If you suddenly lose weight for no apparent reason, you should see a doctor.
2. How to safely supplement vitamin A?
Vitamin A is fat-soluble and stored in tissues throughout the body. But the body cannot make vitamin A on its own, so you need to get it from outside sources – such as food and supplements.
Most people get enough vitamin A in their diet and do not need supplements. Organ meats, green leafy vegetables, and orange fruits and vegetables are all good sources of vitamin A.
There are two types of vitamin A found in foods and most supplements: vitamin A and carotenoids (provitamin A).
Vitamin A is fat-soluble and is present naturally in many foods.
– Vitamin A (also known as retinol) is found in animal sources such as whole milk, cheese, and some fish. When added to dietary supplements, it is often called retinyl acetate or retinyl palmitate.
– Provitamin A carotenoids are found in colorful fruits and vegetables. There are several different types of carotenoids, including beta carotene, a plant pigment that is best known for giving carrots (and other fruits and vegetables) their orange color.
Both forms of vitamin A are converted to retinoic acid once they enter the body. This is the active form of vitamin A that the body can use for everyday activities.
In the body, vitamin A has many different uses:
- Helps the heart, lungs, and other organs function properly
- Helps with growth and development
- Maintains healthy skin
- Supports the immune system
- Helps the retina (the light-sensitive part of the eye) produce certain pigments that help us see
- Keeps the cornea (the inside of the eye) hydrated
- Supports bone strength
- Keeps tissues in the nose, sinuses, and mouth healthy…
What types of vitamin A supplements are available?
People with low levels of vitamin A can take vitamin A as a dietary supplement. Many over-the-counter (OTC) eye health vitamins and multivitamins also contain vitamin A. All of these are available as oral medications.
Prescription creams and medications are also available. Retinoids like tretinoin are FDA-approved prescription medications used to treat conditions like acne, psoriasis, and wrinkles. Retinol, which is not as strong as tretinoin, can be found in many OTC skin care products. Retinol products are often available as creams.
3. Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin A Overdose
Although vitamin A supports many important functions in the body, it can be dangerous in high doses. This can happen if you or a loved one takes too much vitamin A supplements.
Acute vitamin A toxicity can occur within days to weeks of taking one or more doses of vitamin A. Chronic vitamin A toxicity is more common and can occur in people who regularly take high doses of vitamin A over a long period of time. Chronic toxicity is more likely to occur when taking more than 10 times the RDA per day.
The following symptoms may be signs of vitamin A toxicity (overdose):
- Skin irritation (such as peeling skin, redness), dry skin, hair loss
- Blurred vision
- Weakened bones
- Headache, dizziness
- Nausea, vomiting
- High cholesterol levels…
In rare cases, users may also experience liver or kidney damage or severe muscle and joint pain. If you experience any of these signs or symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
Before taking any vitamin A supplements, consult your doctor to help you determine whether your total daily dose of vitamin A is within safe limits.