History

Vitamin A deficiency dates back as far as 1819, during a study with malnourished dogs. During 1912, a biochemist discovered there was an unknown substance present in milk that were not fats, proteins or carbohydrates. In 1917, researchers discovered this substance while researching the role of dietary fats. In 1920, the substance was finally referred to as vitamin A.

Health Benefits

• Immune system function by supporting the growth and distribution of T-cells, a type of white blood cell that protects your body from infection
• Bone formation
• Reproduction and Fetal development- Regulates cell growth and division
• Wound healing
• Vision- assists with color vision and low-light vision, and also helps protect/ maintain the cornea (the outermost layer of your eye) and the conjunctiva (a thin membrane that covers the surface of your eye and inside of your eyelids)
• Skin health- Keeps mucus membranes healthy (the lining in the nose, sinuses, and mouth). Helps maintain other surface tissues such as your skin, intestines, lungs, bladder and inner ear.

Forms

Some vitamins are not considered a single compound. What I mean by this is that there are various forms of Vitamin A including retinoids and carotenoids. There are also derivatives from these compounds such as retinyl. Sounds confusing I know. I will try to break it down to better understand the different forms to help choose the best for your needs.

Vitamin A comes from two sources. Carotenoids and retinoids. Carotenoids such as beta carotene, lycopein and lutein are plants based and retinoids such as retinol and retinal come from animal sources.

Beta Carotene, a carotenoid, is the precurser (ProVitamin) for Vitamin A. Beta carotene is a red/orange pigment found in many fresh fruits and vegetables. Once consumed, beta carotene converts to Vitamin A in the intestines and liver. The advantage of beta carotene is that the body only converts as much as it needs when needed.

Retinoid is preformed, readily used Vitamin A and includes retinOL and retinAL. It does not need conversion. The main difference of the two retinoids is the potency and how fast each works. A common retanOL used is prescription strength retinoic acid such as Retin-A.

They couldn’t just make this simple! Still with me?……

Lastly, we have synthetic, man-made version of Vitamin A derivatives known as esters found in supplement forms. These derivatives are also found from remnant retinoids. In other words, retinoids can convert into esters and esters are also found in supplement forms.There are few out there and they are named for the amino acid they are bound to.

• Retinyl palmitate
• Retinyl acetate
• Retinyl linoleate

Foods
A good way to get your vitamin A is to think about eating in color. Most yellow/orange foods contain Vitamin A. You can get recommended amounts of vitamin A by eating a variety of foods, including the following:

• Beef liver and other organ meats
• Dairy products, which are among the major sources of vitamin A for Americans.
• Cantaloupe
• Carrots
• Mango
• Pumpkin
• Sweet potatoes
• Winter squash
• Dark green, leafy vegetables
• Broccoli

Symptoms of Deficiency

The following are some symptoms of vitamin A deficiency:

• Eyes- Poor vision, thinning and ulceration of the cornea, loss of night vision
• Dry hair and skin
• Miscarriage or infertility
• Delayed growth in children
• Higher risk of infections: in the throat, chest, and abdomen
• follicular hyperkeratosis (AKA keratosis pilaris) harmless, small, rough, tan or red little bumps around hair follicles

Risk Factors for Deficiency

Vitamin A deficiency can result from inadequate intake, malabsorption of fat, and/or liver disorders. A prime example is people with Irritable Bowl Disease, Ulcerative Colitis or Crohns Disease. These GI disorders have a hard time absorbing nutrients such as Vitamin A.

Common Side Effects of Vitamin A

• Carotenodermia- Common and harmless condition affecting the color of the skin. Kids often will generally appear to have an “orange” nose.
• Skin- cracking, itching and increased sensitivity to sunlight
• Vision- Double vision
• Hair loss
• Brittle nails
• Gum disease
• Muscle and Joint pain
• GI- Vomiting, nauseas, anorexia
• Headache, dizziness,
• Irritability, fatigue, drowsiness, changes in alertness
• Bulging fontanelle (soft spot) in children
• Photocarcingenicity- Retinoic acid such as topical creams has been associated with photocarcinogenicity. Which basically means it can cause skin cancer if you dont take precaution by applying sunscreen or avoiding sun exposure with use.

The Concern….

Vitamin A toxicity can occur due to high doses of preformed vitamin A retinol and esters found in some supplements. In some personal care products and supplements, vitamin A compounds and derivatives can be harmful.

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble, meaning that any amount not immediately needed by the body is absorbed and stored in fat tissue or the liver. If too much is stored, it can become toxic resulting in liver damage. In contrast, preformed vitamin A, beta-carotene is not toxic even at high levels of intake because the body only coverts when it is needed. 

Drug Interactions

• Antacids
• Anticoagulants
• Antibiotics- Tetracyclines and Neomycins
• Cholesterol-lowering medications
• Medications Processed in the liver- Common one is Tylenol
• Omeprazole
• Weight loss medications

What do you use Vitamin A for? Comment below.

Having said that here is what we know and what We can DO to prepare in a calm-rational manner…

COVID-19 is a VIRUS and it can cause pneumonia. Pneumonia can be fatal for elderly and compromised individuals. Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs with fluid or purulent (pus) material in one or both lungs. For the most part, the body is capable of reversing the damage from inflammation and allowing the lungs to heal. However, inflammation can become too much that a “cytokine storm” can occur, which is the key mechanism for fatality. A cytokine storm is basically your immune system taking on more than it can handle.

The main symptoms of Covid-19 include some but is not limited to fever, cough and shortness of breath. If you have symptoms, call your physician or local health department and they will instruct you further. Do not leave your house unless you need urgent medical attention.

We cant control the media and we cant control this virus. What we can control is how we react and what we do to protect our family during this time to prevent and treat any virus.

• Stop the panic-buying-frenzy. Trucks are still delivering, grocery stores are still open, and restaurants are still doing their part to help the community. Only buy what you need for the week. You all are acting like Floridians do when a hurricane comes except the difference is, you WONT be stranded without running water or electricity.
• Utilize food delivery services/curb side pick up. Help keep your favorite local restaurants in business.
• Check on your elderly neighbor
• Check on your child’s emotional well being. Here is how to start this conversation
• Stay off social media. You don’t need to check numbers daily. It does nothing to change the situation.
• We are trying to “social distance” to protect our elderly and immune compromised. Lets be responsible and help this cause. Every one in this country has a parent, grandparent, Aunt, Uncle, cousin, child, friend and/or neighbor that fits this criteria. Statistically speaking, most experience mild symptoms but that’s not the case for everyone. Respect others. This is Preschool 101.
• Lots of people still have to leave their homes when necessary but please stay home if you can and most definitely stay home if you are sick.
• Practice makes perfect: Wash your hands, Cough in your elbow, Hand sanitize (recipe here), Avoid touching your face, clean your phone, sanitize your home regularly.

People are out buying endless supplies of toilet paper and I am over here buying ALL the immune supplements and cold remedies.

Here are things I have considered (and why) to protect my family in the event they get any illness during this time….

• Elderberry is used for flu, colds and other ailments by boosting immunity and reducing inflammation. Here is a more in depth explanation and usage.
• Vitamin D3 is known to boost immunity. This is a major reason why the flu season subsides when the weather gets warmer. Not only does the heat kill most virus pathogens but people go outside more and get their Vitamin D. We are all a little Vitamin D deficient to some degree (unless you work outside everyday) and this can pose as a small risk factor for sepsis and inflammatory disorders. Here is more Vitamin D info.
• Zinc is required for normal white blood cell functioning and is known to increase cell production that can boost immunity and reduce inflammation. It also is known to impair the replication of RNA viruses such as influenza and covid-19. Here is more information on how zinc works and acts on the immune system.
• Vitamin A helps make antibodies, a barrier against pathogens. Here is more information on the benefits of Vitamin A.
• Vitamin C is a powerful anti-oxidant and can help prevent oxidative damage minimizing the cytokine storms impact we mentioned above. Some studies suggest high dose of Vitamin C is beneficial during a virus. There’s much speculation on this treatment due to the lack of enough research but the benefit out weights the risk for me personally. Link to more Vitamin C benefits.
• Echinacea treats symptoms associated with cold and flu. It acts as an antimicrobial to viral pathogens. Here is more information for benefits and usage of Echinacea.
• Salt water rinse- If you experience a sore throat start salt water gargling. Here is why… A cold will sit in your throat and replicate. Ask yourself why do we usually start with a sore throat and then other symptoms proceed. Salt water is known to kill germs. Swish swish.
• Anti-pyretics- A fever is your body’s defense mechanism against an illness because it burns up the pathogen. Remember we said warm weather kills most viruses. I try to avoid giving my kids anything for fevers unless they are uncomfortable or their temperature goes above what their pediatrician recommends.
• Cough- If you start to experience a cough, be proactive and call your provider. Here is more information to my post regarding at home remedies for coughs.
• Hydration- Drink! Drink! Drink! This will help detox and flush all the bad out of your body. Salt baths are also beneficial to help with this process.
• Other- Rest, Decrease stress, Exercise, Balanced diet
• Face Mask..…. The only thing that will protect you from respiratory droplets is an N95. Our health care providers are in the front line of this mess. Save the mask for your health care providers.

We live in a highly developed, medically advanced country and we will get through this together. Stay home, stay calm, do your part and wash Yo hands!

Comment below what you use for colds and or/viral infections for your children?

*Disclaimer- Please seek health advice from your provider before trying any of the above mentioned supplements. Only you and your provider understand your child’s health history. These supplements are not considered cures for any ailments including influenza or Covid-19.