Vit. A Deficiency
Vitamin A. Deficiency
Author: Michael Alan Hall Institution: Brandman University
Abstract Vitamin A deficiency is a horrible disease. It causes side effects such as night blindness, conjuctival xerosis, bilot spots, corneal xerosis, corneal scars and xerophthalmia. Unfortunately this disease mostly affects the poor. The disease is not as prevalent in this country as it is in other such as Africa and Asia. It becomes worse because the citizens of these countries do not possess the knowledge to identify the front line symptoms, neither do they have any trust in western medicine. So many (mostly young children) contract and will die of this deficiency every day. This disease is easily preventable and also easily curable if caught in the early stages. Over the past decade a major push for vitamin A deficiency awareness has taken place. But the vast majority of people stricken with this disease are living in the poorest of the poor area’s so they have no money to pay for treatment and as previously mentioned have a lack of trust in western medicines. The fight has not been easy but it is a battle that needs to be fought.
Before diving into the symptoms and treatments for vitamin a deficiency, it would be best to gain some background information on vitamin a. Vitamin a is a fat soluble substance that also comes in the form of carotene. Carotene can be converted by our bodies into the vitamin a that we need. Since vitamins are classified in the group of essential nutrients, our bodies do not produce enough of them in order to keep us healthy. In that case we need to supplement them by the foods eaten. Foods such as animal liver (especially turkey), sweet potatoes, carrots, dark green leafy greens, squash, dried herbs, lettuce, apricots, and cantaloupe all provide a generous amount of vitamin a (healthaliciousness.com). The people who are in a continuous state of suffering
Author: Michael Alan Hall Institution: Brandman University
Abstract Vitamin A deficiency is a horrible disease. It causes side effects such as night blindness, conjuctival xerosis, bilot spots, corneal xerosis, corneal scars and xerophthalmia. Unfortunately this disease mostly affects the poor. The disease is not as prevalent in this country as it is in other such as Africa and Asia. It becomes worse because the citizens of these countries do not possess the knowledge to identify the front line symptoms, neither do they have any trust in western medicine. So many (mostly young children) contract and will die of this deficiency every day. This disease is easily preventable and also easily curable if caught in the early stages. Over the past decade a major push for vitamin A deficiency awareness has taken place. But the vast majority of people stricken with this disease are living in the poorest of the poor area’s so they have no money to pay for treatment and as previously mentioned have a lack of trust in western medicines. The fight has not been easy but it is a battle that needs to be fought.
Before diving into the symptoms and treatments for vitamin a deficiency, it would be best to gain some background information on vitamin a. Vitamin a is a fat soluble substance that also comes in the form of carotene. Carotene can be converted by our bodies into the vitamin a that we need. Since vitamins are classified in the group of essential nutrients, our bodies do not produce enough of them in order to keep us healthy. In that case we need to supplement them by the foods eaten. Foods such as animal liver (especially turkey), sweet potatoes, carrots, dark green leafy greens, squash, dried herbs, lettuce, apricots, and cantaloupe all provide a generous amount of vitamin a (healthaliciousness.com). The people who are in a continuous state of suffering
Cited: Ehrlich, S. D. (n.d.). Beta-carotene. University of Maryland Medical Center | Home. Retrieved December 17, 2012, from http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/beta-carotene-000286.htm Latham, M. C. (1997). Human nutrition in the developing world. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin A. (n.d.). HealthAliciousNess . com. Retrieved December 17, 2012, from http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/food-sources-of-vitamin-A.php