Vitamin A represents an essential nutrient, important in maintaining healthy corneas and skin and supporting your immune system. Your body relies on vitamin A from your diet, as well as vitamin stores in your liver, to help maintain healthy tissue Some medications and treatments, such as mineral oil, can negatively affect the levels of vitamin A in your body. Though the risk of serious complications due to mineral oil consumption might be slim, taking the oil might increase your risk of a vitamin A deficiency in some cases. Always consult a health care provider before trying a new therapy or altering your diet, especially if you have a health condition.
Uses for Mineral Oil
Mineral oil is primarily used as a treatment for constipation. Your body proves unable to break down mineral oil, so it moves rapidly through your digestive tract, promoting the movement of stool through your colon and dislodging an impacted colon. Consuming the oil provides temporary relief from constipation in some cases, though mineral oil does not treat the underlying cause of the constipation.
Effect on Vitamin A
Taking mineral oil can potentially have a negative effect on the levels of vitamin A in your body. Vitamin A is a type of fat-soluble vitamin, capable of dissolving in oil droplets within your digestive tract. When you consume mineral oil for constipation, vitamin A in your digestive tract dissolves in the oil and passes from your body, instead of being absorbed by your intestinal wall. As a result, long-term use of mineral oil might prevent your body from absorbing dietary vitamin A, eventually causing a vitamin deficiency.
Possible Side Effects
A vitamin A deficiency due to chronic mineral oil consumption can cause a number of side effects. The nutrient nourishes your eyes, so a vitamin A deficiency can cause difficulty seeing at night and cause Bitot's spots -- a buildup of keratin in the corner of your eye. A vitamin A deficiency might also dampen your immune system. The deficiency can increase the severity of relatively mild infections, as well as increase your risk of infection transmission.
Considerations and Preventing a Deficiency
In most cases, your body can store excess vitamin A within your liver, and your body can sustain itself on this stored vitamin A. However, if you have suffered from nutrient deficiencies in the past and lack a vitamin A store, or if you consume mineral oil regularly for long periods of time, you might develop a vitamin A deficiency. You can help to prevent the deficiency by taking mineral oil sparingly. If you suffer frequent constipation -- and therefore require regular mineral oil consumption -- visit your doctor to identify and address the underlying cause of the constipation. Never take mineral oil without first consulting your doctor.
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