As you know, the role of vitamins in the human body is huge. There are many types of these organic compounds that have a positive effect on certain cells and tissues. A person needs vitamins, since without them he will not be able to live normally. These organic compounds are necessary for the proper absorption of nutrients, strengthening the body as a whole, etc. Vitamin A is responsible for the normal growth and condition of nails, teeth, skin, hair. With its lack, certain problems arise associated with the formation of sex hormones and the maintenance of immunity. In this regard, hypovitaminosis A develops, which means the insufficiency of this element in the body.
Vitamin A
First you need to determine what this organic compound is. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble substance that has two forms: retinol (basic) and carotene (provitamin). Retinol enters the human body as ether, then in the small intestine it breaks down and enters the liver. After that, as necessary, it is transferred with a blood stream. Other carotenoids, which got their name from the English word carrot, which means carrot, are digested a little worse. The name appeared as a result of the fact that for the first time the elements were found in this vegetable.
Doctors say that for an adult, the daily intake of vitamin A is 1 mg. Moreover, about 80% of the norm should be obtained in the form of retinol, and the remaining 20% - in the form of other carotenoids. If a person does not receive such an amount, there is a lack of vitamin A. This can lead to serious consequences. In most cases, the disease develops as a result of malnutrition.
Hypovitaminosis: what is it?
As we have already found out, vitamin A and other organic compounds are very important for the normal functioning of the human body. It is worth noting that retinol is synthesized only in animal cells, it is not contained in plant foods. Accordingly, an ailment can occur due to insufficient consumption of animal products.
Hypovitaminosis - a lack of organic compounds in the body. Lack of retinol and carotene is diagnosed quite often. Scientists suggest that vitamin A helps maintain blood sugar levels. If this theory is confirmed, it will be used in the fight against diabetes, obesity, etc.
Hypovitaminosis A is divided into two types: primary and secondary. The attribution of a particular case to one of them is determined by the reasons that caused the appearance of the disease. The primary lack of retinol and carotene is due to malnutrition. This problem mainly concerns residents of Central Asia, who often eat rice in which there is no carotene. Secondary hypovitaminosis A has another reason - insufficient intake of fats in the body.
The daily norm of retinol and carotene
To avoid this unpleasant ailment, it is necessary to monitor the implementation of the daily plan for obtaining vitamin. Hypovitaminosis A in humans develops rather quickly, so this issue is relevant. So, for different ages and categories of people, the norm is different:
- 0-12 months - 0.4 mg;
- 1-3 years - 0.45 mg;
- 4-6 years - 0.5 mg;
- 7-10 years - 0.7 mg;
- 11-50 years old - 0.8-1 mg;
- pregnant and lactating - +0.3 mg.
People of working professions who receive maximum physical activity need retinol and carotene to enter the body. The daily norm for them is 1 mg. This category of people is most at risk of developing hypovitaminosis.
Where is vitamin A contained?
A fat-soluble substance enters the body naturally through food. Consider what kind of food contains this vitamin:
- Vegetables. By themselves, these products are very useful, as they have many other vitamins. Retinol and carotene are found in carrots, spinach, pumpkin, green onions and parsley.
- Fruits. Of these, apples, apricot, grapes and melon can be distinguished.
- Berries Enriched with vitamin A cherries and sea buckthorn, as well as watermelon.
- Dairy and dairy products. Here you can note sour cream, cheese and milk.
- Egg, chicken yolk, beef liver, red caviar and fish oil.
The use of these products will help protect yourself from a lack of vitamin A. Health is the main thing in life, so you need to monitor it.
Causes of occurrence
In most cases, it is unhealthy diet or a strict diet that causes the appearance of hypovitaminosis A. Children suffer from the disease most often due to diathesis. In addition, improper functioning of internal organs can also lead to a shortage of retinol and carotene.
A lack of this vitamin leads to the development of dry eye syndrome. And he, in turn, is the most common cause of complete blindness. In addition, hypovitaminosis is a source of premature aging.
A situation may arise when a person consumes a daily intake of vitamin, and the disease still appears. Then the cause is a malfunction of the internal organs. Retinol enters the body, but is not absorbed due to problems with the liver or biliary tract. There are two types of causes: exogenous and endogenous. The former are associated with external influences of undesirable factors, and the latter are associated with problems within the body.
Symptoms
There are a lot of signs of hypovitaminosis A, so we will consider the main ones. Lack of retinol is expressed in the appearance of wrinkles, premature aging of the skin, and the formation of dandruff. One of the most striking symptoms is “night blindness,” meaning impossibility to see in the dark. In addition, dry skin, acne, and the condition of the teeth deteriorate.
Symptoms of vitamin A hypovitaminosis in childhood are characterized by a decrease in immunity, color blindness, fatigue, apathy, and growth retardation. Lack of retinol and carotene often leads to bowel problems. Women may experience cervical erosion, and men will experience urinary incontinence and a lack of erection. In rare cases, a deficiency of vitamins leads to the development of lung cancer, pneumonia and bronchitis. In any case, with the first symptoms, you should seek help from a specialist, self-medication is not recommended.
Stages of Hypovitaminosis
The symptoms of retinol deficiency are quite diverse and each person is individual. However, there are three general stages of vitamin A deficiency:
- The first stage is characterized by a violation of the functioning of organs inside the body, which leads to a decrease in working capacity and weakening of immunity. A person becomes susceptible to various viruses and infections. To determine this, it is necessary to conduct a laboratory study with a doctor.
- The second stage is determined by the presence of visual signs that appear as a result of a lack of nutrients. Here the disease is already beginning to develop.
- The third stage is said when there is a complete lack of vitamins or problems with its absorption are observed. In this case, such diseases develop with hypovitaminosis A, treatment of which is possible only after replenishment of retinol and carotene.
Medical use
Doctors prescribe vitamin A when they realize that the body lacks it. Retinol is usually recommended in the following cases:
- diseases of the skin and mucous membranes, such as dermatitis, thrush, and others;
- problems with the visual organs during prolonged work at the computer;
- damage to the skin.
In most cases, the intake of vitamin A preparations is part of a comprehensive therapy aimed at eliminating a particular disease. It is especially actively used in the treatment of diseases of internal organs. They are also prescribed to make up for the lack of iron in the body. This is due to the fact that the content of retinol directly depends on the amount of iron.
Diagnostics
As already noted, when the first symptoms appear, you need to see a doctor. This raises the question: which one? It depends on the symptoms that have been noticed. If a person has pain or discomfort in the abdomen, you should make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. If you have problems with the visual organs, you need to contact an ophthalmologist. Well, in case of skin problems (regardless of the reasons), there is a direct road to a dermatologist.
All these specialists, one way or another, encounter hypovitaminosis in their practice. In order to correctly diagnose an ailment, it is necessary to first examine the patient. According to its results, a biochemical blood test and an ophthalmoscopic procedure are usually prescribed. Based on the results of these studies, the doctor collects all the data and makes a diagnosis. It is worth noting that the probability of error is quite high, since the symptoms of vitamin deficiency coincide with the signs of a mass of other diseases.
Treatment of ailment
It is worth noting immediately that you do not need to delay the replenishment of vitamins in the body. Many people think that it's okay, they say, later we will start eating right, and everything will pass. This is fundamentally wrong. The condition of vitamin deficiency can lead to serious consequences. First of all, when identifying an ailment, retinol replacement therapy should be carried out. Treatment of hypovitaminosis A is carried out in several ways:
- The right diet. It is necessary to start eating foods with a high proportion of retinol.
- Medicines This therapy lasts for several weeks, usually up to a month. Vitamin A preparations are prescribed individually, depending on the stage of development of the disease.
- Treatment of other diseases. Vitamin deficiency leads to the appearance of various diseases, up to oncology. Therefore, you can try to eliminate just such diseases in order to prevent their development.
However, the latter method is not entirely correct, since it is still recommended to first fill up the lack of vitamins, and only then begin serious treatment.
Of the medicines containing retinol, Undevit, Complivit, Hexavit and Vitrum can be distinguished. The use of these medicines will speed up the process of replenishing vitamins in the body. They are prescribed mainly to those patients who are unable to eat a balanced diet. In any other situations, doctors recommend combating the disease with the help of special diets.
Prevention
In fact, everything is simple. After all, what is hypovitaminosis? This is a deficiency of vitamins in the body. To prevent this, it is necessary to use products that contain these elements. Vegetables, fruits, herbs and eggs should be present in the diet of each person. They have not only vitamin A, but also other groups of organic compounds that have a positive effect on the body.
If a person does not have the opportunity to eat these products, or he does not like them, it is recommended to take medications. The medicines discussed above are excellent for maintaining the required level of retinol. Doctors often recommend taking AEvit or multivitamins.
Effects
The effects of hypovitaminosis A are not the most comforting. Long-term lack of retinol and carotene leads to diseases of the internal organs and all systems, disruption of the body. More often than others, blindness, dermatitis are diagnosed, the development of oncology is possible. To protect yourself from this, you need to monitor your diet.
If the first symptoms are detected, you should not postpone the visit to the doctor. A problem that at first glance seems not serious can turn into a health hazard. Discomfort in the abdomen can easily turn into pancreatic cancer, and there are a lot of such examples. Therefore, you need to love your body and in every way protect it from the penetration of bacteria and infections.