Vitamin A is a type of fat-soluble vitamin that is known to be good for eye health and helps repair body cells. If the body lacks vitamin A, various health problems will occur, such as eye problems, dry skin, and the risk of having children.
Vitamin A deficiency can happen to anyone, but children and pregnant women are more at risk of experiencing this condition, especially those who live in developing countries, including Indonesia.
A person can experience vitamin A deficiency due to lack of intake of this vitamin, or because of disorders in the digestive tract that make the absorption of vitamin A becomes problematic.
Recognizing the Impact of Vitamin A Deficiency
One of the most common effects of vitamin A deficiency is eye problems, such as macular degeneration, dry eyes, decreased vision, and a corneal disorder called xerophthalmia.
In addition to disturbing eye health, the effects of vitamin A deficiency that can occur include:
1. Dry skin
People who are deficient in vitamin A are more at risk of developing skin problems, especially eczema and dry skin. This happens because vitamin A is one of the important vitamins that play a role in helping create and repair skin cells.
2. Easy to get infected
Vitamin A has an important role in maintaining the immune system. Lack of vitamin A intake is associated with various risks of infection such as ARI, pneumonia, diarrhea, and measles. Those who are deficient in vitamin A, especially children, are at risk of complications from measles. Therefore, vitamin A intake is important to fulfill so that the immune system remains strong.
3. Cancer risk increases
The link between vitamin A deficiency and cancer is still being debated. However, according to a study, low levels of vitamin A in the body are at risk of triggering the growth of cancer cells.
However, further studies are still needed to determine how much influence vitamin A deficiency has on the emergence of cancer.
4. Growth disorders in children
Children need complete nutrition to achieve optimal growth and development. One of the nutrients that also needs to be fulfilled is vitamin A. Lack of vitamin A in children in the long term is known to stunt children's growth, so that children's bodies become shorter than their peers.
5. Fertility problems
There are various things that can cause fertility problems or infertility. One of them is vitamin A deficiency. Not only in women, fertility disorders due to vitamin A deficiency can also occur in men.
Furthermore, vitamin A deficiency can also increase the risk of miscarriage and genetic disorders or birth defects in the fetus.
Efforts to Prevent Vitamin A Deficiency
Vitamin A intake can be obtained from food. Some foods that are good sources of vitamin A are:
- Heart.
- Chicken and beef.
- Salmon.
- Egg.
- Milk and its products, namely cheese and yogurt.
- Fruits, such as mangoes, cantaloupe, pumpkin, apricots, chilies, and oranges.
- Various types of vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, spinach, and sweet potatoes.
Vitamin A deficiency is still a health problem in Indonesia. This condition can cause serious disturbances, so it is necessary to take preventive measures. That is why, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia conducts a program of providing vitamin A for children under five years old (toddlers) nationally, every February and August.
Although important for health, vitamin A should not be consumed in excessive amounts because it can cause overdose or vitamin A poisoning. The recommended daily intake of vitamin A is 900 micrograms for men, 700 micrograms for women, and 1300 micrograms for breastfeeding mothers.
To get additional vitamin A intake, you can take over-the-counter vitamin A supplements. However, you should first consult with a nutritionist about the types of supplements and dosages that are safe for consumption.