Vitamin A Deficiency: Causes, Symptoms, and What You Can Do

When your body doesn’t get enough vitamin A deficiency, a condition caused by insufficient intake or absorption of retinol and its precursors. Also known as hypovitaminosis A, it’s not just about blurry vision—it can weaken your immune system, damage your skin, and even lead to permanent blindness if left untreated. This isn’t rare in developing regions, but even in wealthier countries, people with digestive disorders, poor diets, or those who’ve had gastric surgery can slip through the cracks.

Night blindness, the earliest and most common sign of low vitamin A, means you struggle to see in dim light—like walking into a dark room or driving at dusk. If it gets worse, you might develop xerophthalmia, a serious eye condition where the cornea dries out, cracks, and can scar. Skin becomes dry and scaly, and infections like respiratory or urinary tract issues become more common because vitamin A helps keep your mucous membranes healthy. Kids and pregnant women are especially vulnerable; a lack of vitamin A during pregnancy can affect fetal development, and in children, it increases death risk from common illnesses like measles.

It’s not just about eating carrots. While beta-carotene from plants like sweet potatoes, spinach, and kale converts to vitamin A, your body needs fat to absorb it properly. That’s why a low-fat diet or conditions like Crohn’s disease or celiac can block absorption—even if you’re eating plenty. Animal sources like liver, eggs, and dairy offer pre-formed retinol, which your body uses right away. Supplements can help, but they’re not always the answer—some people need targeted treatment, especially if the cause is malabsorption.

What you’ll find below are real, practical posts that connect vitamin A deficiency to other health topics you might not expect. From how drug interactions affect nutrient absorption to how supplements compare and when generics work just as well, these articles don’t just talk about the deficiency—they show you how it fits into the bigger picture of your health, medications, and daily choices. You’ll see how something as simple as a vitamin can tie into liver function, immune response, and even how your body handles other pills you take every day.