Vitamin A deficiency
Linked to Vitamin A
Low vitamin A impairs vision and immunity and dries the skin and eyes.
Where it shows on the body
Rotate the figure and click a red marker to see the affected area. Internal organs open a 3D organ model.
Causes
- Low intake of animal foods and coloured vegetables
- Fat malabsorption
- Malnutrition
Symptoms
- Night blindness
- Dry eyes
- Dry, rough skin
- Frequent infections
- Delayed growth in children
What happens if untreated
- Permanent blindness (leading preventable cause worldwide)
- Severe infections
Who is most at risk
- Young children in low-income settings
- Pregnant people
- Those with malabsorption
Prevention & sources
- Liver, eggs, dairy
- Orange and green vegetables
- Supplement programmes where needed
Correcting it: foods, amounts & timing
Foods that help & safe amounts
- Liver occasionally (once a week max; avoid in pregnancy)
- Eggs and dairy
- Orange and dark-green vegetables (carrots, sweet potato, spinach) daily for beta-carotene
- Supplements only under guidance — high-dose retinol is harmful in pregnancy
Night vision can improve within days to weeks; skin and immunity over several weeks.
Sources & references
Symptoms overlap — testing matters
Most deficiency symptoms (fatigue, poor concentration, skin and hair changes) are shared across several nutrients and many unrelated conditions. A symptom on this page is a reason to investigate, not a diagnosis.
A GP can confirm or rule out a deficiency with a blood test and check for underlying causes such as absorption problems. Do not start high-dose supplements on suspicion alone — some nutrients are harmful in excess, and supplementing before testing can mask the underlying result.