In: Nursing
The vitamin A is fat soluble vitamin and it helps in vision and for epithelial tissue health like maintaining healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucous membranes, and skin. The other name of vitamin A is retinol because it produces the pigments in the retina of the eye. Vitamin A significantly promotes good vision, especially in low light. It is converted in the body, mainly from dietary beta-carotene and 3 other carotenoids. The main storage of vitamin A (i80-90%)is liver.
The normal range of vitamin A/retinol in blood is 28–86 μg/dl. Serum retinol levels of below 28 μg/dL is considered as Vitamin A deficiency.
The Deficiency disorders:
Nyctalopia or night blindness is one of the first occurring signs of vitamin A deficiency.
Xerophthalmia: It is the most common vitamin A deficiency symptom seen in young children and pregnant women. If untreated, can lead to blindness.
Even though the main victims are children, Vitamin A deficiency can also occur in adults with diseases of the gastrointestinal system that interfere with absorption of vitamin A.