Vitamin A Deficiency

 

Vitamin A Deficiency

Lack of Vitamin A in the body is called Vitamin A deficiency. It mainly affects the eyes, skin, and immune system.

Symptoms of Vitamin A Deficiency

• Night blindness (nyctalopia) – difficulty seeing in low light

• Xerophthalmia – dryness of the eyes

• Bitot’s spots – foamy patches on the white of the eyes

• Keratomalacia – softening and damage of the cornea (can lead to blindness)

• Dry, rough skin and hair problems

• Weak immunity → frequent infections

• Stunted growth in children

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Foods That Contain Vitamin A

Vitamin A comes in two main forms:

1. Preformed Vitamin A (Retinol) → from animal sources

2. Provitamin A (Beta-carotene) → from plant sources

Animal Sources (Retinol – ready-to-use form)

• Liver (beef, chicken, lamb) – richest source

• Fish liver oil (cod liver oil)

• Egg yolk

• Milk, cheese, butter

• Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna)

Plant Sources (Beta-Carotene – converted to Vitamin A in body)

• Carrots

• Sweet potatoes (orange-fleshed)

• Pumpkin

• Mangoes

• Papaya

• Red and yellow bell peppers

• Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, collard greens, amaranth leaves)

• Tomatoes

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✅ Tip: Vitamin A is fat-soluble, so eating these foods with a little healthy fat (like olive oil, nuts, or ghee) helps better absorption.