Vitamin A
Vitamin A is essential for normal vision , immune system, gene regulation, reproduction, baby development, health and protection of all the tissues that line the body.
Vitamin A Deficiency
vitamin A deficiency is common
in celiac disease.
Vitamin A deficiency can develop in celiac disease in the following ways. Upper digestive problems, such as low stomach acid, can fail to dissolve vitamin A out of food sources. Protein deficiency impairs absorption transport through the intestinal lining while fat malabsorption impairs vitamin A absorption into the lymph. Finally, the liver cannot mobilize stored vitamin A to maintain adequate blood levels when blood protein and zinc levels are low.
Vitamin A deficiency can persist or develop after diagnosis and treatment with a gluten-free diet if the diet does not include adequate amounts of vitamin A, protein, zinc and fat.
Vitamin A deficiency
Impairs maintenance of eye tissue of the conjunctiva and cornea.
Alters visual function of the retina due to depletion of rhodopsin, a pigment located in the rod cells of the retina, needed to distinguish light and dark.
Impairs development and maintenance of skin and mucus membranes, resulting in skin thickening and poor defense against infection.
Alters immune response, impairing the numbers and responsiveness of white blood cells to bacterial, viral and fungal infections.
Alters gene regulation resulting in adverse growth and development of tissues in general.
Impairs reproduction for conceiving and producing children and fertility in both sexes, and
Impairs bone and tooth growth in children.
Deficiency Symptoms
Nightblindness, or difficulty seeing in dim light such as twilight is the earliest sign.
Difficulty adjusting from light area to dark area.
Excessive sensitivity to light (photophobia).
Blindness
2. Eye problems:
Dry eyes (dry, sandy feeling) due to lack of adequate tear production.
Eye redness (conjunctivitis).
Blepharitis (inflamation of the eyelid).
Bitot’s spots following thickening of conjunctiva and lack of tears.
Blurry vision due to dryness of cornea.
Xerophthalmia develops from softening of the cornea in advanced stage of dryness and thickening and advances to blindness.
Cataracts.
2. Skin problems:
Dry, rough, scaly skin.
Plugged hair follicles, or dry, bumpy skin “goose flesh,” called follicular hyperkeratosis.
3. Low mucus production
Dryness in digestive tract, lungs, urinary tract and genital tract.
Poor protection against microbe invasion.
4. Digestive problems:
Dry mouth.
Poor digestion.
Indigestion.
CONTINUED TO IMMUNITY ISSUES IN VITAMIN A
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