Dietary intake of vitamin A as a result of inadequate and unbalanced nutrition, disorders of fat absorption, metabolic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, celiac, crohn’s disease, hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc. What are the symptoms of vitamin A deficiency caused by liver diseases, febrile infectious diseases, low birth weight or premature birth, damage to the pancreas? How is it treated? What we need to know is in our news…
WHAT IS VITAMIN A?
Vitamin A is an oil-soluble organic compound necessary for vision and epithelial tissue health. In the body, the diet is converted from beta-carotene and 3 other carotenoids. 80-90% of vitamin A is stored in the liver.
WHAT IS THE VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY?
The normal vitamin A / retinol range is 28-86 μg / dL. Vitamin A deficiency is defined as serum retinol levels below 28 μg / dL. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to blindness, skin diseases and growth retardation in children.
WHICH FOODS ARE VITAMIN A?
Vitamin A is present in sufficient amounts in both animal origin foods and vegetable origin foods. While it is found mostly in the form of retinol in foods of animal origin, it is in the form of carotene in foods of vegetable origin.
Animal Resources:
Liver
– Goat’s milk and cow’s milk
– Yoghurt
– Cheese
– Red meat (mutton, beef)
– Fish and fish oil
– Butter
– Egg yolk
– Chicken meat
Herbal Resources:
– Potato
– Melon
– Apricot
– Mango
– Tomato
– Pepper
– Carrot
– Spinach
– Cabbage
– Lettuce
– Parsley
– Mint
– Broccoli
– Green beans
– Leek
– Mint
– Broccoli
SYMPTOMS OF VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY
Many ailments arise as a result of vitamin A deficiency. These ailments can be temporary or permanent damage.
The most common signs and symptoms in vitamin A deficiency are:
* Night blindness
* Dry eyes (Xerophthalmia)
* Corneal softness
* Bitot spot
Wounds on the cornea
* Blur in the eye
* Eye infections, inflammation
* Dry skin
* Due to the weakened immune system, it is possible to catch diseases easily and prolong the recovery period.
* Delays in healing wounds
* Growth and developmental delay
* Skin rashes
* Unhealthy, lifeless hair
* Hair loss and dandruff formation
* Difficulties in the respiratory system
Urinary tract inflammation
* Intestinal infections
* Reproductive disorders, infertility
* Low birth, anomaly births
* Bone and teeth weakening
* Anemia due to iron deficiency
* Impaired sleep quality
* Disruptions in the digestive system
* Epithelial tissue hardening
* Deterioration in skin, nail, hair health
HOW TO TREAT A VITAMIN DEFICIENCY?
The symptoms seen due to vitamin A deficiency are described above. When these symptoms are encountered, the cause of this should be determined first. Treatment should then begin immediately.
If the deficiency is due to dietary intake, the content of the diet should be enriched with vitamin A and a balanced and adequate nutrition should be provided. If there are other reasons, then a medical intervention may be required depending on the reason. In such cases, vitamin A can be given as a supplement as a supplement.
Vitamin A deficiency can be prevented by a diet that includes:
– Spinach, cabbage, broccoli and other leafy green vegetables
– beta-carotene-rich fruits such as apricots or peaches and multi-colored vegetables such as carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes
Milk or cereals fortified with vitamin A
Liver
– Egg yolk
– Fish liver oils
