A patient has night blindness, follicular hyperkaratinosis, and increased susceptibility to infection. Which vitamin is he most likely deficient in?
A lack of Vitamin A is a cause of all of these symptoms. Various forms of vitamin A are derived form Beta-carotene, which is high in carrots. However, Beta-carotene levels are even higher in sweet potatoes. Green leafy veggies are also a good source of Beta-carotene. Vitamin A plays a role in the formation of rhodopsin ( a photoreceptor of rod cells) which is vital to the reception of dim light, thus contributing to your night vision. So, yes, mom was on to something when she said to eat your carrots to see better.
However, a common misconception is that they increase your overall vision, which isn't necessarily true as Vit A does not contribute to cone cell formation, which function best in bright light and color detection.
No comments:
Post a Comment