The Problems of Too Little and Too Much Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin which is important for the health of the human body. Vitamin A was the second Vitamin which researchers discovered which is required for human health beyond just fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Vitamin A has many functions in the human body, and a lack of Vitamin A can lead to many problems and health conditions.
Vitamin A is very important for the human body health of the following: vision, gene transcription, immune function, embryonic development and reproduction, bone metabolism, haematopoiesis, skin health, and antioxidant activity.
There are many modern diets, lifestyle and eating trends which prevent a person from having the proper levels of Vitamin A in their body. One of the unique things about Vitamin A, in comparison to many other vitamins such as Vitamin B, is that Vitamin A is fat-soluble and not water-soluble. This means that a person can have too much Vitamin A in their system far easier than other vitamins, and it also means it is harder for the body to flush out excess Vitamin A compared to other vitamins.
This means a person has to be very conscious about just how much Vitamin A they have in their system at a time. Too much and too little can both have detrimental effects on the overall health of the human body.
Vitamin A Deficiency
It is estimated that millions of children around the world will suffer from Vitamin A deficiency. This mainly affects the children in developing countries. Again it is estimated that 250,000-500,000 children in developing countries will become blind each year as a direct result of Vitamin A deficiency. The World Health Organization (WHO), claim that Vitamin A deficiency is under control in the United States; however, they are not taking into account new research and lifestyle changes in eating practices in many United States subcultures.
New research has demonstrated that fruits and vegetables alone pass along a far lower amount of Vitamin A to the human body as once thought. This means that many people who are both vegetarians and vegans are not getting the proper amounts of Vitamin A they once thought they were receiving. This means that families who raise their children in similar diets to poorer third world nations (higher in fruits and vegetables and lower in meat) will actually be exposing their children to the same Vitamin A deficiencies as developing nations.
Secondary Vitamin A Deficiency is another way that Vitamin A deficiency is affecting many people whom live in the United States. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin so that means that a low-fat diet will affect the rate the body is able to absorb Vitamin A. With such an epidemic of obesity in the United States many people are turning to low-fat diets in order to lose weight. This means that although people perhaps are eating good sources of Vitamin A, their bodies simply don’t have the means to convert the Vitamin A into retinol.
Effects of Vitamin A Deficiency
Ritinylidene protein is a unique function of the retinyl group for light absorption, one of the earliest effects of Vitamin A deficiency is a reduction or impairing of vision—especially when trying to see in reduce light (night blindness). Deficiency can also lead to other visionary problems which will eventually lead to complete blindness. Other changes in the human body involve impaired immunity and upper respiratory disorders. There are dental problems which can also arise from Vitamin A deficiencies including enamel hypoplasia. Vitamin A is especially important for pregnant and breastfeeding women, since deficiencies cannot be compensated by postnatal supplementation.
Toxicity of Vitamin A
As explained above Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, which means it is harder for the body to dispose of excessive amounts of Vitamin A in the human system. Thus Vitamin A toxicity may result. There are many disorders which can result from an excessive amount of Vitamin A in the human system: nausea, jaundice, irritability, anorexia, vomiting, blurry vision, headaches, hair loss, muscle and abdominal pain and weakness, drowsiness, and altered mental status. Excessive amounts of Vitamin A, especially through supplementation, can cause birth defects, so it is very important for women who are pregnant and breastfeeding to not exceed the daily recommended amounts of Vitamin A.
Hypervitaminosis A can lead to chronic cases which will cause: hair loss, dry skin, drying of the mucous membranes, fever, insomnia, fatigue, weight loss, bone fractures, anemia, and diarrhea. These symptoms are all evident with the addition of symptoms associated with less serious cases of hypervitaminosis A. It is estimated that 75% of people in developed nations may be ingesting more than the recommended daily amount of Vitamin A on a regular almost daily basis. There has been the creation of water-soluble forms of Vitamin A, but some research has actually indicated that water-soluble Vitamin A can actually be more toxic than the fat-soluble vitamin.
Avoiding Hypervitaminosis A
The best way to avoid taking in too much Vitamin A is to find a good daily multi vitamin which is tailored to the needs of the individual. Men and women require different levels of vitamins, and this means that a simple one size fits all daily vitamin can actually lead towards Vitamin A toxicity. Finding a reputable company which is producing a gender specific multivitamin is the best way to ensure that enough and not too much Vitamin A is included in a daily diet. Proper research should be taken before starting any supplement or mineral, and a person really needs to focus on what they are eating in addition to the supplements they are taking to ensure proper health. Yet, a good multi-vitamin company is a great partner towards better daily living.
