What are the causes for vitamin A deficiency and what are the signs and symptoms?
Some conditions may cause excessive loss of vitamin A. These include cancer, tuberculosis, pneumonia, chronic nephritis, urinary tract infections or prostate disease. Conditions such as celiac disease, short-gut syndrome, obstructive jaundice, cystic fibrosis, or liver cirrhosis which impair the absorption of fatty foods also impair of vitamin A absorption. Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include roughening of skin or skin dryness, eye problems such as night blindness, abnormal conjunctival dryness, photophobia, which left untreated, may lead to permanent vision loss. What are the symptoms of vitamin A overdose? Symptoms of vitamin A overdose include headache, double vision, nausea, vomiting, vertigo, high calcium level, drowsiness, fatigue, malaise. If taken at doses above RDA, vitamin A may cause fetal harm.
