Vitamin A (NLOSS)

Patient Information Factsheet

North London Obesity Surgery Service (NLOSS)

What does vitamin A do?

• Vitamin A is important for healthy eyes, the immune system, skin, lungs, and for how your stomach, bowels, bladder, and urine system work.
• It is also important in wound healing and cell reproduction.

What happens if my vitamin A is low/if I do not get enough vitamin A?

• Changes in vision are often the first sign that someone may not have enough vitamin A.
• You may notice that you cannot see as well at night.
• For example, it may be harder to drive at night.
• You might not see well in the dark, need lights on earlier, or find it harder to move around in low light, like going to the bathroom.
• You may also notice that your eyes feel dry and become easily irritated.
• Sometimes, early vitamin A deficiency can also cause dry hair, a dry mouth, dry or itchy bumpy skin, broken nails, and infections that happen more often.
• If vitamin A deficiency is very bad or continues, serious problems can happen. The most serious problem is permanent blindness.

What are other symptoms?

• Loss of tears
• Sores in the eyes
• Fatigue
• Dry cracked lips, mouth sores
• Diarrhoea
• Bladder infections
• Vaginal infections
• Upper/lower respiratory infections
• Poor and delayed wound healing

Where can I get vitamin A?

• There are two kinds of vitamin A.
• One is from plants, called beta-carotene, and the other is from animals, called retinol.
• Beta-carotene is found in red, orange and green vegetables. It is also found in some fruits such as carrots, cantaloupes, apricots, mangoes, sweet potatoes, red peppers, tomatoes, peas and spinach.
• Retinol is found in foods that come from animals such as whole eggs, milk, and liver. It is also found in fortified cereals and margarine.
• Vitamin A can also be taken as a dietary supplement in multivitamins and in capsules or tablets.
• As a supplement, you can find both beta-carotene and retinol.
• If you have a vitamin A deficiency, your Doctor will probably ask you to take a vitamin A supplement. They will also ask you to pay attention to what you are eating.
• Most of the time your Doctor will ask you to take retinol instead of beta- carotene.

Other important things

• High Retinol levels can be a problem in pregnancy. If you are pregnant, it is important talk to your Doctor or Midwife about how much vitamin A is safe for you to take.
• There is no safety issue with beta-carotene in pregnancy.

Further information

Please visit the NHS website www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/others/

Contact our service

Should you need more information, please contact our Specialist Bariatric Dietitians on 0207 288 5989, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.