Vitamin A, commonly known as retinol, serves various critical tasks, including maintaining the health of the skin and the lining of some body parts. You should be able to acquire enough vitamin A through a diverse and balanced diet, though some people may prefer to take a supplement.
There are several risks to not getting enough vitamin A, which can affect your skin and hair. Vitamin A deficiency can be caused by a long duration of lack of vitamin A diet, but it can also occur when your body is unable to absorb vitamin A.
This can appear due to a number of diseases. So, what danger signs you should look out for?
Skin and hair problems can be symptoms of vitamin A shortage in the body.
According to the Mayo Clinic, these include dry skin, dry hair, and itching, often known as pruritus.
Mild forms of low levels of vitamin A may not show any symptoms. However, a lack of vitamin A may lead to fatigue, according to the website.
The Mayo Clinic further highlights that mild and severe vitamin A deficiency may cause an increased risk of infections, including throat and chest infections, and gastroenteritis.
Similarly, in children and teenagers, it may delay growth and bone development.
Unfortunately, it can also raise the chances of infertility and miscarriage.
There are potentially more severe kinds of vitamin A deficiency that can lead to vision trouble including poor vision, dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea on the surface of the eye.
The Mayo Clinic adds: “The treatment for mild forms of vitamin A deficiency includes eating vitamin A-rich foods – eg, liver, beef, oily fish, chicken, eggs, fortified milk, carrots, mangoes, sweet potatoes and leafy green vegetables.”
A daily intake of 1.5mg or less of vitamin A through diet and supplements is unlikely to be harmful.
The Mayo Clinic points out: “Vitamin A deficiency is unusual in high income countries.
“However, it is very common in low income countries where it often develops because of intestinal infections and worms, and protein-energy malnutrition.”
Nonetheless, the health website claims that if you have a moderate form of vitamin A shortage with no symptoms, the outcome is very good.
The body can store any excess vitamin A. As a result, you don’t need to consume the necessary amount of vitamin A every day.
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