Quiz of the Day - Vitamin A
How much vitamin A do we need each day (according to the ASMBS)?
How much vitamin A is in your multivitamin?
Why is beta carotene not a good source of vitamin A for us?
What are some common symptoms of vitamin A deficiency?
What was your vitamin A level last time you had labs done? (If you don’t know, call your doc for a copy of your lab report to find out. And if you haven’t had it tested, add it to the list of labs to request next time you get labs done!)
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
Laurie says: Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind ~~~ dr. suess
Today I unloaded the dishwasher, put a load of laundry in and took the dog on a short walk. I am now totally pooped out. Be glad when I am back to myself. I can't stand being still and I know I need to do that as well as exercise and move around.
We need 10,000 IU vitamin A, or 200% of the RDA. A lot of multivitamins fall a bit short here, even ones that are generally good vitamins for us, and some post ops are OK with that and some end up needing to take a little more vitamin A, so watch your labs closely.
Betacarotene isn’t exactly vitamin A, we have to convert it to vitamin A in our bodies. Only adults don’t covert it well for some reason. Kids convert it better. Also, you need lots of stomach acid to absorb betacarotene but we don’t have much stomach acid. We do much better with retinyl palmitate or retinyl acetate in a supplement.
Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include poor night vision, then other problems with eyesight, dry itchy eyes, dry cracked lips, very dry skin and getting sick easily. Usually your level is pretty seriously low before you start having symptoms though. That’s why we need to get our vitamin A level checked along with other labs on a regular basis. Some docs don’t check vitamin A routinely for some reason, so you may need to ask yours to order that test when you get labs done.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
