Vitamin A Deficiency
Assess whether you present clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency: dry eyes, night vision, rough skin, acne, dry mucous membranes.
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Keeping your balance
Maintain your dietary intake
Consume poultry or veal liver once or twice a month, as it is the most concentrated source of preformed retinol. Complement with organic egg yolks and raw butter daily for regular intake without excess.
Optimize carotenoid absorption
Always combine your orange vegetables (carrots, sweet potato, butternut squash) and dark green vegetables (spinach, kale) with a quality fat source such as olive oil or ghee. Gentle cooking increases beta-carotene bioavailability by breaking down plant cell walls.
Monitor conversion cofactors
Beta-carotene to retinol conversion depends on zinc, thyroid function, and good fat digestion. If you are vegetarian or vegan, regularly check your zinc status and thyroid function to ensure efficient conversion.
What you can do
Prioritize preformed retinol
Incorporate cod liver, poultry liver, or liver pâté once or twice a week. Animal-origin retinol is directly bioavailable, unlike plant beta-carotene whose conversion is often insufficient in cases of confirmed deficiency.
Consider targeted supplementation
Supplementation with retinyl palmitate or natural beta-carotene can address the deficiency. Caution: do not exceed of preformed retinol, especially if pregnant or planning pregnancy, due to teratogenic risk. Doses are set with your doctor or your naturopath, all the more so if you already take a medication.
Check your fat digestion
Vitamin A is fat-soluble: its absorption depends on good bile production and pancreatic lipase. If your stools are loose, pale, or floating, hepatobiliary support (artichoke, black radish, rosemary) can significantly improve assimilation.
Associate essential cofactors
Zinc is essential for the synthesis of RBP (retinol-binding protein) which transports retinol from the liver to tissues. Without sufficient zinc, even correct liver reserves do not benefit target organs. Check your zinc status in parallel.
Have biological testing performed
Ask your doctor for serum retinol, RBP, and plasma beta-carotene measurement. These markers allow distinguishing a dietary deficiency from an absorption or conversion deficiency, and guide precise management.
What you can do
Supplementation with retinol under supervision
Supplementation with retinyl palmitate is justified in cases of confirmed deficiency, under medical supervision. Cod liver oil (1 teaspoon per day) is a natural alternative providing retinol and vitamin D simultaneously. Strict contraindication at high doses in pregnant women. Doses are set with your doctor or your naturopath, all the more so if you already take a medication.
Restore hepatobiliary function
The liver stores and mobilizes retinol via RBP. Support liver function with choleretic and cholagogue plants: artichoke (cynarin), black radish (raphanin), and rosemary (rosmarinic acid). Good quality bile is essential for emulsification and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
Correct intestinal malabsorption
Explore the causes of malabsorption: exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, intestinal dysbiosis, celiac disease, or intestinal permeability. Fecal fat test or fecal elastase can objectify lipid maldigestion. Correcting the underlying cause is a priority over supplementation.
Maximize dietary intake
Consume quality organic liver twice a week, raw or soft-boiled egg yolks daily, and raw butter at each meal. Systematically combine your colored vegetables (carrot, butternut squash, sweet potato, spinach) with a fat source to maximize carotenoid absorption.
Monitor zinc and thyroid
Zinc is the essential cofactor of the enzyme beta-carotene 15,15'-dioxygenase which converts beta-carotene to retinol, and of hepatic RBP synthesis. Hypothyroidism also slows this conversion. Measure erythrocyte zinc and TSH to identify these metabolic obstacles.
Consult for comprehensive assessment
With such a high score, comprehensive biological testing is essential: serum retinol, RBP, beta-carotene, zinc, liver and thyroid function panels. Personalized naturopathic support will allow coordination of dietary correction, digestive support, and supplementation adapted to your condition.
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Related tests
This result is an educational naturopathic self-assessment. It is neither a diagnosis nor medical advice, and it does not replace a consultation. Only a health professional can confirm or rule out a disorder. If symptoms persist, or if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on any treatment, talk to your doctor before taking any supplement or herbal preparation, and never stop a treatment without medical advice.
How to read this test
Assess whether you present clinical signs of vitamin A deficiency: dry eyes, night vision, rough skin, acne, dry mucous membranes. Free, 10 questions.
Vitamin A exists in 2 forms: retinol (from animal sources, directly usable) and beta-carotene (from plant sources, converted by the liver). It plays a fundamental role in vision, the integrity of skin and mucous membranes, and the proper functioning of the immune system. This questionnaire helps you identify clinical signs suggestive of a deficiency, which is common in vegans, people suffering from intestinal malabsorption, or those with a low-fat diet.
Strengths
- Rapid identification of clinical signs
- Simple self-assessment test
- Detection of skin, visual and mucosal complications related to retinol deficiency
Limitations
- Does not replace blood testing
- Some signs may have other causes
- Limited sensitivity for subclinical deficiencies