What Is Vitamin A Deficiency?

 

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a condition in which the body does not produce enough vitamin A. This leads to problems such as poor vision, dry skin, and night blindness. VAD is caused by a lack of dietary intake of vitamin A.

Vitamin A is found in foods such as liver, eggs, milk, cheese, butter, fish, meat, vegetables, and fruits. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for adults is 900 mcg/day. However, most children need 1000 mcg/day.

The symptoms of VAD include dry eyes, dry skin, and poor vision. People who suffer from these conditions usually experience fatigue, weight loss, and hair loss. In severe cases, people can develop infections, diarrhea, and pneumonia.

 Preventing Vitamin A Deficiency

Vitamin A deficiency is a serious problem in developing countries. In fact, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 2 million children die every year due to vitamin A deficiency. This number has been steadily increasing over the years.

Vitamin A is essential for healthy eyesight, bone growth, immune system function, reproduction, and skin health. However, most people don’t realize that vitamin A deficiency can lead to blindness and death.

The good news is that there are several things you can do to prevent vitamin A deficiency. Here are five ways to prevent vitamin A deficiency:

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables contain beta carotene, which our bodies convert into vitamin A. The recommended daily intake of beta carotene is between 15 and 45 milligrams per day.

However, eating too much fruit and vegetable can actually cause vitamin A deficiency. Therefore, try to eat a variety of foods, including dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, bok choy, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and carrots.

Also, try to include a wide range of foods in your diet. For example, you should eat eggs, dairy products, fish, meat, poultry, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains.

Get enough sleep.

Sleep plays a big role in maintaining a healthy body. According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night.

If you aren’t getting enough sleep, you may experience fatigue, moodiness, poor concentration, and weight gain. These symptoms can affect your overall health, especially when combined with other lifestyle factors.

Therefore, try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night, and avoid napping during the day.

Limit alcohol consumption.

Alcohol contains high levels of sugar, which can contribute to obesity and diabetes. Alcohol also causes dehydration, which can lead to low blood pressure and headaches.

In addition, drinking alcohol can interfere with sleep patterns.

Exercise regularly.

Regular exercise helps keep your heart strong and improves your energy level. Exercise also reduces stress and anxiety, which can improve your mood.