Vitamin a Deficiency: An Updated Review for Healthcare Professionals and Nutrition Practitioners

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Halima Hamad Alrashidi, ABDULLAH Abdulrahman Albattat, Mahra Hammoud Deghailib Al-Rashidi, Mohammed Ibrahim Ali Abbas, Fatima Saeed Lutfallah, Fehaid Ayez Almotari, Bader Ali Alotaib, Abdullah Saleh Essa Aldurayhim, Mohammed Saleh Al-Yami, Israa Mohammed Hussain Alwabari, Fawaz Gazi Alhweel Alotaibi, Adnan Mubarak Followed Al-Sharari, Nasser Fahed Alotaibi, Ali Mohmmmed Alqahtani, Dalal Khalifah Alshammari.

Abstract

Background: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a significant global health issue, particularly affecting children and pregnant women in low-income regions. Vitamin A is essential for vision, immune function, and cellular development, and its deficiency can lead to severe complications, including blindness, increased susceptibility to infections, and high mortality rates. While VAD is rare in developed countries, it remains prevalent in resource-poor settings due to inadequate dietary intake and recurrent infections. Public health interventions, such as supplementation, food fortification, and biofortification, have been implemented to address this issue.


Aim: This review aims to provide healthcare professionals and nutrition practitioners with an updated understanding of VAD, including its etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and prevention strategies.


Methods: The review synthesizes current literature and guidelines on VAD, focusing on its global prevalence, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and management. It highlights the roles of dietary assessment, supplementation, and public health interventions in addressing VAD.


Results: VAD disproportionately affects children under five and pregnant women in developing countries, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. Early symptoms include night blindness and xerophthalmia, which can progress to irreversible blindness if untreated. Serum retinol levels are commonly used for diagnosis, though liver biopsy remains the gold standard. Treatment involves vitamin A supplementation (VAS), with dosing tailored to age, severity, and regional guidelines. Prevention strategies include dietary diversification, food fortification, and biofortification of staple crops.


Conclusion: VAD is a preventable condition with severe consequences if left untreated. Effective management requires a multifaceted approach, including supplementation, dietary education, and public health initiatives. Collaboration among healthcare professionals, nutrition practitioners, and policymakers is essential to reduce the global burden of VAD.


 

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