Lack of vitamin A in the long term can cause blindness.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Vitamins are very important to maintain a healthy body. Deficiencies of certain types of vitamins, such as vitamin C and vitamin D, are easier to assess, but there are also deficiencies of other types of vitamins that are not widely recognized, such as vitamin A.
Vitamin A is very important for maintaining healthy eyes, healthy skin, and fighting infection. WebMD warns, when a person doesn’t get enough vitamin A in the daily menu, he may be at risk of vitamin A deficiency.
Long-term vitamin A deficiency can have serious consequences, including blindness. Over time, it can lead to many health problems, including decreased vision, decreased immunity, and death.
One of the symptoms Vitamin A deficiency The thing to watch out for is itchy skin. “People who are deficient in vitamin A can have skin problems, such as dry, itchy, and scaly skin,” reads a WebMD statement. ExpressWednesday (20/7/2022).
It is advisable to contact a doctor to have vitamin A levels tested if a person is concerned about a deficiency. There are several conditions that can be caused by a large amount of vitamin A deficiency, one of which is xerophthalmia.
People with the condition xerophthalmia will experience dry and crusty eyes, which can damage the cornea and retina. A person with a vitamin A deficiency is also more likely to experience health problems because his body is less likely to fight off infections.
Another condition is Bitot’s spot, which is a buildup of keratin in the eye that causes blurred vision. Keratomalacia can also occur, an eye disorder that involves drying and clouding of the cornea, which is the clear layer in front of the iris and pupil.
People who are deficient in vitamin A can also experience keratinization, the process in which cells are filled with the protein keratin. Then, the cells die and form a hard and durable structure in the urinary tract, digestive tract, and respiratory tract.
