Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin A (retinyl acetate)
For the health condition: Night Blindness

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 5

Vitamin A (retinyl acetate) is scientifically validated as an essential nutrient for vision, particularly for the prevention and treatment of night blindness (nyctalopia). Night blindness occurs when the eyes have difficulty adapting to low-light conditions, often due to an impaired ability to regenerate rhodopsin, the visual pigment in retinal rod cells. Vitamin A is a direct precursor for the retinal component of rhodopsin. Deficiency in vitamin A disrupts this process, leading to night blindness, which is often one of the earliest symptoms of deficiency.

Multiple clinical studies, epidemiological data, and global public health programs have demonstrated that vitamin A supplementation can both prevent and reverse night blindness in individuals with deficiency. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends vitamin A supplementation in populations at risk of deficiency, specifically to prevent blindness and reduce child mortality. Historical records also indicate that cod liver oil and other vitamin A-rich foods were used long before the vitamin's discovery to treat vision problems.

Thus, the use of vitamin A (retinyl acetate) for the treatment and prevention of night blindness is based on robust scientific understanding of ocular physiology, clear clinical outcomes, and long-standing medical practice. Supplementation is only indicated in cases of deficiency, as excessive vitamin A can be toxic.

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