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Broken logic: xerophthalmia (dry eye) is said to be a Vitamin A deficiency, yet most who have it aren't Vitamin A deficient?

Dr. Garrett Smith@cscsatc
533 Posts
#1 · November 21, 2018, 1:01 pm
So, your daily dose of how you've been sold a lie about Poison/"Vitamin A" being a good thing, when the research on it is mostly biased garbage and statements about it make NO sense. To wit:
 
Here is the main thing that comes up under a Google search for xeropthalmia (aka dry eye disease, DED):
"xe·roph·thal·mi·a: abnormal dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye, with inflammation and ridge formation, typically associated with vitamin A deficiency."
The first link under that definition says this in the first line:
"Xerophthalmia is a progressive eye disease caused by vitamin A deficiency. Lack of vitamin A can dry out your tear ducts and eyes."
 
This implies a pretty strong association, right? I'd say so. We should ASSume that this condition would be associated with LOW blood levels of Poison/"Vitamin A" then, right?
 
From the "The American Journal of Managed Care", an article titled "Management of Dry Eye" by Michael A. Lemp, MD:
"Vitamin A deficiency is a known cause of xerophthalmia; however, most DED patients are not vitamin A–deficient."
 
This is NOT nutritional science folks. A deficiency is a cause of a problem where there is NO deficiency to be found?  Let's go with something more scientific.
DHA is the main natural ligand (binder) of the improperly-named Retinoic Acid Receptor (RXR), I have a post on this. Funny thing:
"Metabolic deficiency of ω-3 [omega-3, which includes DHA] tear film lipids may be a driver of chronic ocular surface inflammation in DE [dry eye]."
 
DHA deficiency in the eye is being misdiagnosed as a Vitamin A deficiency, the first one (DHA) is necessary, the second one (Poison/"Vitamin A") coincidentally stimulates the same receptor (so can induce similar effects/benefits while also being a poison).
 
Benefits of DHA on dry eye here:

It would seem we found the cause and solution.  I do not believe DHA supplementation is necessary in an adequate diet. I do believe also that removing the Poison/"Vitamin A" will free up the receptors from excess Poison/"Vitamin A" and allow less DHA to do a better job (better efficiency and effectiveness).

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Last edited on November 21, 2018, 1:17 pm by Dr. Garrett Smith
Dr. Garrett Smith, the "Nutrition Detective"
Licensed Naturopathic Physician (NMD) in Arizona
NutritionDetective.com, home of the Love Your Liver program
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