What is

Vitamin A & Its Role in Good Health

Muhammad Yasin
PC VAS
 Types of Nutrients
To maintain our brain, muscle, bone, nerves, skin, blood circulation, and immune system, our body requires a
steady supply of many different raw materials—both macronutrients and micronutrients

• Micronutrients can be divided into four groups — water-soluble

vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins, macrominerals and trace minerals.
• Vitamins are necessary for energy production, immune function, blood
MICRO clotting and other functions.
NUTRIENTS • Minerals play an important role in growth, bone health, fluid balance,
production of enzymes and hormones.
• There are 13 types of Vitamins and at least 9 minerals that our body
needs to function properly. Examples includes Iron, Iodine, Zinc and
Vitamin A.

MACRO • Required in large quantities daily, Body uses them to supply energy
NUTRIENTS • Examples includes Proteins, Fates, Carbohydrates and Water

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 What is a Hidden Hunger & Role of Micronutrients

• Micronutrient deficiencies are referred to as hidden hunger.

• Sub clinical deficiency of even small amounts of micronutrients in

daily diet are associated with increased morbidity and mortality,
learning disability, impaired working and reproductive capacity.

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 What is Vitamin A
• Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is
naturally present in many foods.
• Chemically vitamin A is a group of unsaturated
nutritional organic compounds that includes:
• Retinol
• Retinal
• Retinoic acid
• carotenoids (most notably beta-carotene)

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Types & Dietary Sources of Vitamin A

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Chemistry/Storage and Use of Vitamin A

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 Roles & Functions of Vitamin A
1. Maintains healthy epithelia structure and function (surface lubrication, For the
maintenance of the immune system (host resistant against infections & diseases)),
Vitamin A influences the way in which the cells such as epithelial cells differentiate
into mature cells.

2. Retinol operates in the visual conductive system as part of rods and cons (Vitamin
A derivates make up the photosensitive chemicals of the rods (rhodopsin) and cons
(iodopsin). Upon exposure to light/darkness, these chemicals photoisomerize and
send a signal down the optic nerve)

3. Vitamin A works as an antioxidant, fighting cell damage.

4. Vitamin A binds to the RXR/RAR complex, which allows it to bind to nuclear

targets. Amplifying various functions of DNA/proteins

5. Vitamin A also has role in reproduction (increase the sperms) 7

 Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD)
1. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a significant public health problem in Pakistan. The
National Nutrition Survey 2018 indicates 51.5% children had Vitamin A deficiency.
Similarly, 27.3% WRA were found Vitamin A deficient.

2. Around 0.25 to 0.5 million Vitamin A deficient children become blind each year and
half of them die within one year of losing their vision.

3. Without Vitamin A mucus forming cells deteriorate and no longer synthesize

mucus as essential lubricant used through out the body (lubricates the eye surface
and washes away dirt and other particles that settle on the eye)

4. Night blindness, Xerophthalmia, Skin (Follicular Hyperkeratosis)

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 Vitamin A Deficiency and Symptoms
• The most obvious symptom of Vitamin A deficiency is the reduced integrity of the
epithelial tissues (destruction of protective barrier results in chronic infections).
• The normal mucous secreting intestinal epithelium loses integrity and become
diseased, resulting in infections and diarrhea.
• The normal mucous secreting respiratory tract looses its ability to clear inhaled
pathogens/toxicants, it results in bronchial obstructions & other respiratory
sequels.
• Kerototic lesions/Follicular Hyperkeratosis (dry skin), Acne, Ocular
anomalies/Keratonization of cornea (xerophthalmia) & (Bitot spot)
• VAD slows adaptation to the dark, due to the loss of pigments/photo sensitive
chemicals in the rods, this leads to night blindness or total blindness due to destruction
of the Retinol Pigment Epithelia(RPE).
• (mal-absorption problems) Malnourished/weight loss/fat in the stool, Biliary
Obstruction (difficult to absorb fat soluble Vitamin, e.g. Vitamin A)

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 Effects of Vitamin A Deficiency
VICIOUS CYCLE OF VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY AND INFECTIONS

INFECTION

REDUCED RESISTANCE DECREASED VITAMIN A

TO INFECTION STORES

VITAMIN
A
DEFICIENCY
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 Causes of Vitamin A Deficiency
1. INSUFFICIENT INTAKE
• Lack of exclusive breast feeding
• Consumption of foods that have lesser Vitamin A content
2. LESSER VITAMIN A ABSORTION
• Excessive use of plant origin Vitamin A does not provide enough Vitamin A.
• Person’s diet is deficient in oil and fat for absorption of Vitamin A.
• Malnourished person’s body may not absorb Vitamin A properly due to absence of
enzymes.
3. INCREASED USAGE OF VITAMIN A DURING RAPID GROWTH, PREGNANCY, LACTATION
4. THE LINING OF THE INTESTINE IS DAMAGED DURING DIARRHEA AND MALARIA
5. MEASELS RESULTS IN RAPID DEPLETION OF VITAMIN A STORAGE FROM BODY
6. SEASONAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS (in some seasons of the year the availability
of Vitamin A rich foods is less).
7. ZINC DEFICIENCY (Zinc deficiency can depress the synthesis of retinol-binding protein
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(RBP) in the liver and lead to lower concentrations of RBP in the plasma.
 4 Options to Reduce Vitamin A Deficiency

EXCLUSIVE
BREAST FEEDING
FORTIFICATION OF CONSUMPTION OF
STAPLE FOODS FOODS RICH IN
WITH VITAMIN A VITAMIN A
SUPPLEMENTATION
OF
VITAMIN A (VAS)

Most cost-effective intervention with rapid impact since the other two
options would take a longer time to achieve the target
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Thank You

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