Vitamin A is essential for your vision, immunity, skin, and cellular health—yet deficiencies are more common than you might think. While it’s often associated with malnutrition in developing countries, subclinical or marginal deficiency can occur even in well-fed populations.
Understanding the symptoms and risk factors—and testing your levels—can help prevent long-term complications.
🧬 What Is Vitamin A?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that exists in two main forms:
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Preformed Vitamin A (retinol): Found in animal products like liver, eggs, and dairy
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Provitamin A (beta-carotene): Found in plant-based foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens
The body must convert beta-carotene into retinol, but conversion efficiency varies based on genetics, gut health, and overall nutrition.
⚠️ Signs and Symptoms of Deficiency
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Night blindness or trouble seeing in low light
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Dry eyes and vision problems
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Frequent infections or slow wound healing
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Dry or rough skin
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Fertility issues or delayed growth in children
🔬 The WHO considers Vitamin A deficiency the leading cause of preventable blindness in children worldwide.
Even marginal deficiencies may go unnoticed until immune or skin issues appear.
🧪 How to Test for Vitamin A Levels
Vitamin A status can’t be accurately assessed from symptoms alone. Blood testing is the gold standard.
Our Vitamin A Test measures retinol levels in a dried blood sample, giving you a precise snapshot of your vitamin A status. Results include:
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Retinol concentration (µmol/L or µg/dL)
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Optimal range for age and gender
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Risk classification (deficient, borderline, or sufficient)
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Actionable steps for repletion
💡 Who’s at Risk?
You may be more likely to have low vitamin A if you:
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Follow a low-fat or plant-based diet without fortified foods
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Have gut disorders (e.g. celiac, Crohn’s, IBS)
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Have liver or pancreatic disease
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Are pregnant or breastfeeding
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Have high alcohol intake or chronic inflammation
Even with good dietary intake, poor absorption or conversion can lead to deficiency.
🥕 Foods Rich in Vitamin A
| Source | Form | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Animal foods | Retinol | Liver, eggs, full-fat dairy |
| Plants | Beta-carotene | Carrots, pumpkin, kale, spinach |
| Supplements | Retinyl palmitate or beta-carotene | Capsules or multivitamins |
Note: Some people genetically convert beta-carotene poorly and may need preformed retinol.
🙋♀️ FAQs
Q: What’s the difference between retinol and beta-carotene?
A: Retinol is the active form found in animal foods. Beta-carotene (from plants) must be converted into retinol in the body.
Q: Who should test their Vitamin A levels?
A: Anyone with frequent infections, skin issues, low-fat diets, or gut problems—especially if they don’t eat animal products.
Q: How do I know if I’m absorbing enough Vitamin A?
A: Our Vitamin A Test will show whether you’re deficient, borderline, or sufficient based on your blood retinol levels.
Q: Is Vitamin A toxic in high doses?
A: Yes—especially from supplements. That’s why testing first is safer than blind supplementation.
🧭 Take the Guesswork Out of Vitamin A
Low vitamin A can compromise everything from your vision to immune defense. But you can fix it—if you catch it early.
✅ Order the Vitamin A Test now
🧪 Collect your blood sample at home
📈 Get results in days with clear guidance
