Vitamin which prevents night blindness

The latter weekly recommendation is similar to the prophylactic dosage used in this study. Although our findings do not relate to treatment, they suggest a need to re-evaluate the treatment recommendation and possibly revise it upward to maximize efficacy and to prevent relapse among vitamin A—responsive cases.

The additional requirement for vitamin A in a healthy pregnancy is relatively low, and confined mostly to the third trimester Underwood The late onset of night blindness in pregnancy suggests that fetal demands on maternal vitamin A stores late in gestation may exacerbate a chronic, low vitamin A status in women. Findings of a previous case-control study in this population showed a dramatic difference in the serum retinol level of women with and without night blindness during pregnancy 0.

Fifty-two percent of cases vs. High levels of infection may also contribute to an increased demand for vitamin A and a consequent lowering of vitamin A status during pregnancy.

In Nepal, night blind women were at a fold higher risk of diarrhea in the past week Christian et al. An acute phase protein response in pregnant women with diarrhea was associated with a 0.

Other etiologies such as zinc deficiency, which may limit vitamin A utilization Christian and West , Smith and is believed to be widespread Caulfield et al. In the retina, retinol is converted to retinal, the form required to synthesize the photosensitive pigment rhodopsin, through a reaction requiring a zinc-dependent retinol dehydrogenase Huber and Gershoff Zinc deficiency could inhibit this reaction and result in abnormal dark adaptation or night blindness.

Zinc is also required for retinol-binding protein synthesis; thus, its deficiency could impair vitamin A transport Duncan and Hurley , Mejia In pregnancy, maternal plasma zinc starts to decrease as early as 6 wk of gestation and continues to decline until delivery Tamura and Goldberg Fetal demands on zinc appear to accelerate, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy Reifen and Zlotkin , which could in part underlie both an increased risk of night blindness at this stage of gestation as well as its partial nonresponsiveness to vitamin A, as seen in this study.

Riboflavin deficiency has also been associated with night blindness in adults Venkataswamy These studies suggest that multiple nutrient supplementation or a more varied diet may be required to prevent maternal night blindness. Although the requirements of vitamin A are greater in lactation than in pregnancy NRC , the risk of night blindness in breastfeeding populations has been reported to be higher during pregnancy Katz et al.

Factors such as plasma volume expansion of pregnancy Kelner et al. Pregnancy may also be a unique state during which other etiologies such as zinc deficiency could influence dark adaptation. Local cultural practices promoting better diets in the postpartum period relative to the pregnancy period could also explain a lower incidence of night blindness during lactation. The risk of night blindness after delivery was highest in the first month, declining thereafter.

This suggests that the nutritional demands of recovering from birth and establishing lactation, especially given high maternal losses of vitamin A in colostrum and immature breastmilk Patton et al.

Although this policy remains to be implemented nationally in Nepal, it may have a potential benefit on preventing the maternal night blindness that occurs in the first few months after birth. An adequate dietary or supplemental intake of vitamin A throughout pregnancy and postpartum periods is necessary but not sufficient for eliminating maternal night blindness.

For a substantial proportion of women, who are exposed to repeated pregnancies in poor, chronically malnourished societies, a recommended dietary allowance may be insufficient to maintain adequate maternal vitamin A status and prevent occurrence of night blindness during pregnancy and lactational postpartum periods. It is also possible that other nutritional deficiencies, such as that of zinc, may limit the efficacy of vitamin A in preventing maternal night blindness, serving to reinforce the need for a balanced diet to maintain adequate health and function of women during and after pregnancy.

We thank members of the Nepal Nutrition Intervention Project-Sarlahi in Nepal beyond the authors for their assistance in the conduct of this study, especially R. Adhikari, S. Dali, R. Pokhrel and R. Stoltzfus; D. Mandal, T. Shakiya, G. Subedi, U. Shankar, A. Bhetwal and D. Allard J. Royall D. Kurian R. Muggli R. Jeejeebhoy K. Effects of beta-carotene supplementation on lipid peroxidation in humans. Google Scholar. Butte N. Calloway D. Proteins, vitamin A, carotene, folacin, ferritin and zinc in Navajo maternal and cord blood.

Neonate 41 Caulfield , L. Christian P. Bentley M. Pradhan R. West K. An ethnographic study of night blindness ratauni among women in the terai of Nepal. Schulze K. Stoltzfus R. Hyporetinemia, illness symptoms, and acute phase protein response in pregnant women with and without night blindness. Christian , P. An Update. Khatry S. Katz J. Shrestha S. Pradhan E. LeClerq S. Pokhrel R. Night blindness of pregnancy in rural Nepal—nutritional and health risks.

Macro International Inc. Google Preview. Duncan J. Hurley L. An interaction between zinc and vitamin A in pregnant and fetal rats. Erdman , J. Gebre-Medhin M. Vahlquist A. Vitamin A nutrition in the human fetus. Acta Pediatr. Huber A. Gershoff S. Effects of zinc deficiency on the oxidation of retinol and ethanol in rats. Kahn , H. Humphrey J. Kimbrough-Pradhan E. Sommer A. Night blindness is prevalent during pregnancy and lactation in rural Nepal.

Zeger S. Tielsch J. Village and household clustering of xerophthalmia and trachoma. Kelner M. Gomes S. Madruga I. Valenca T. For general inquiries, please email us at [email protected] and a member of our staff will return your email promptly. We Are Open For Business. Click to Learn More. Vitamin A-rich Diet for Night Blindness Some of our patients have complained about night blindness, affecting their ability to drive on highways or residential roads after sunset.

To Supplement or Not To Supplement? Omega-3 Fatty Acids Deep-water fishes, fish oil supplements, and walnuts contain these essential fats, which help maintain adequate moisture in your eyes. Vitamin C Oranges , orange juice, citrus fruits,cantaloupe, and other vitamin C-rich food can help reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.

Vitamin D We also recommend incorporating mackerel and milk in your diet as part of your eye care regimen. Vitamin E Vitamin E-rich foods include walnuts, almonds, and pistachios. Zinc Zinc can be found in dark meat, legumes, milk and oysters. Beta-Carotene Carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes contain significant amounts of beta-carotene. Lutein and Zeaxanthin These antioxidants are readily found in green, leafy, vegetables, such as kale and collards.

Benefits of Wearing Contact Lenses. Share This Article:. Written by Justin Bazan Dr. More Articles by Justin Bazan. Visit Our Location. Contact Us Email: [email protected]. Hours Monday. Book Your Appointment. Our Reviews. Our Services. Our Brands. View All Our Brands. Contact Us. Book Appointment. Africa alone accounts for 2. Night blindness is the earliest clinical ocular manifestation of vitamin A deficiency; even before that, systemic consequences occur.

An insufficient dietary intake of vitamin A, or retinol, inhibits the production of rhodopsin, the eye pigment that enables vision in lowlight conditions and adjustment to changes in illumination. Bright light exposure results in the pigment immediately photo- bleaching, but it naturally regenerates within a few minutes, Alfred Sommer, MD, a professor of ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and dean emeritus and professor of epidemiology and international health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said at the American Ophthalmological Society meeting.

Photobleaching is the process by which the eye is exposed to bright light, and rhodopsins split instantaneously. Animal products such as dairy, liver and egg yolks are the only source of preformed vitamin A, and these products are either unavailable or generally too costly for people in developing countries, he said.

Sommer and Kumar said that adequate intake of provitamin A carotenoids, found in dark-colored vegetables, would prevent vitamin A deficiency in older individuals, but Sommer noted that the conversion is inefficient.

Pregnancy and lactation can also lead to vitamin A deficiency in women. Kumar said that the Reproductive and Child Health program in India has included the detection and management of clinical vitamin A deficiency in pregnant women as a component under antenatal care. Because breast milk is a critical source of vitamin A, promoting breastfeeding is the best way to protect infants from vitamin A deficiency, according to the WHO.

Because vitamin A is a required nutrient, supplementation is needed upon completion of breastfeeding in countries where foods rich in vitamin A are sparse. Those in underserved populations generally cannot afford and do not have access to vitamin A supplementation and, therefore, rely on organizations to provide it. Vitamin Angels, a nonprofit organization that provides nutrients to at-risk populations, encourages local organizations to take responsibility for micronutrient deficiency by creating accessible micronutrient supplies and distribution, according to the website vitaminangels.

Malnourished children are referred for special consultation for further management. In addition, her practice runs regular awareness campaigns on the significance of vitamin A in children and the damaging impact that malnourishment can have on the eye. Many countries have not been able to accurately assess the level of vitamin A deficiency because of limitations in storing and transporting biological samples or because laboratory facilities are sparse, according to the UNICEF report A Decade of Progress.

Sommer said that, so far, some nutritionists in the global community have been resistant to the administration of vitamin A supplementation for fear that it will not live up to expectations.

Sommer is involved in research and policy projects regarding appropriate age and dosage of vitamin A in children. He said that the WHO recently funded other groups of investigators to replicate these studies, with results anticipated in about 1 year.

The relationships between poverty, vitamin A deficiency, measles and childhood blindness are concerning. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report, the immunity boost that vitamin A supplementation provides, which increases resistance to infections and produces red blood cells, contributes to the reduction of mortality from conditions such as diarrhea and measles.

In addition, poverty can contribute to malnutrition because it may prevent access to medical care. The regular provision of vitamin A supplements should also be a goal because prevention is better than a cure.

Mayo Clinic. Updated Sept. Accessed Oct. Congo: Vitamin A campaign targets deficient children. Published April 4, Accessed Nov.