Signs of vitamin A deficiency that go unnoticed –

When we talk about vitamins, you immediately think of the most famous ones: C (very associated with strengthening immunity and fighting skin spots) or D (the one related to sunbathing, you know?), for example. But are you aware of the possible lack of vitamin A in the body? If the answer was no, it’s worth knowing the main symptoms of nutritional deficiency. Understand better:

What is Vitamin A

“It is one of the micronutrients that we can find in foods of animal origin (in the form of retinol) and vegetable (provitamin A)”, explains nutritionist Caroline Ligi, from São Paulo.

Still according to the specialist, it is essential for the proper functioning of vision, for the growth and development of children, for cell division, for maintaining cell integrity, for immune function and for antioxidant defense.

“You can find vitamin A in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, dark green vegetables, in addition to viscera (liver), egg yolk and milk and derivatives”, adds nutritionist Kerlin Schmitz, co-founder of Divina Terra. Check out more examples:

Meatliver, egg yolk, fish oils, whole milk and cheeses;
Dark green leaves: broccoli, kale, watercress, spinach;
Yellow and orange vegetables and fruits: carrot, pumpkin, mango, guava, papaya and persimmon;
Vegetable and oilseed oils: pupunha and dendê.

Signs of a lack of vitamin A in the body

“Vitamin A deficiency can reflect mainly on ocular health, which can lead to the emergence of eye problems such as xerophthalmia (or night blindness), since it is very important for the production of certain visual pigments”, says Caroline Ligi.

2 – Frequent infections

“Vitamin A participates in the modulation of the immune system and creates barriers against invaders. Frequent infections can be signs that the organism is deficient in it”, explains Kerlin Schmitz.

3 – Short-term dry skin and long-term wrinkles

Of course, a deficiency in this nutrient may not be the only cause of dry skin, but it plays an important role in this matter. After all, retinol, found in countless moisturizing creams, is a vitamin A derivative that can help prevent wrinkles, smooth the texture of the complexion, and much more.

After understanding the relationship, it makes sense that the lack of the vitamin causes dryness and increases the chance of premature aging, doesn’t it?

4 – Delayed growth (in the case of children)

The micronutrient is essential for the development and growth of the little ones. Therefore, not acquiring it properly in childhood can lead to delays in these two aspects.

Animal research shows that vitamin A deficiency may be associated with infertility. This is because it is known that it is important for several reproductive processes.