Vitamin A (Retinol) · low result
What does a low Vitamin A (Retinol) mean?
Short answer
Low vitamin A is uncommon in the US and points to fat malabsorption — celiac disease, Crohn's, cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, bariatric surgery, cholestatic liver disease — or to a very restricted diet, heavy alcohol use or zinc deficiency (zinc is needed to mobilize vitamin A from the liver). Acute illness lowers the measured level temporarily because retinol-binding protein falls.
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
What is the normal range for Vitamin A (Retinol)?
- age 18+: 38.0 – 98.0 mcg/dL
Can reflect malabsorption, liver disease, or inadequate dietary intake.
Full reference table, citations and testing options: Vitamin A (Retinol) biomarker page.
What are the common causes of low Vitamin A (Retinol)?
- Fat malabsorption: celiac disease, Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic insufficiency, bile-acid deficiency
- Bariatric surgery, especially bypass procedures
- Very low-fat or restrictive diets, alcohol use disorder, malnutrition
- Zinc deficiency, liver disease
- Acute infection or inflammation (transient), premature infants
What symptoms go with low Vitamin A (Retinol)?
- Difficulty seeing in dim light, dry eyes
- Dry, rough skin, frequent infections, slow wound healing
What do clinicians usually check next?
- Repeat when well; zinc, vitamins D and E, albumin, CRP
- Celiac antibodies, stool fat or elastase if malabsorption is suspected
- Dietitian or GI review; supplementation is dosed by a clinician because of the toxicity margin
Follow-up tests available at TestWell: Zinc ($26.99), C-Reactive Protein (CRP) ($26.99).
How do you recheck Vitamin A (Retinol)?
Prices are cash-pay; every order adds one $6 lab processing fee. Physician authorization is included; no insurance or referral needed.
| Test or panel | Type | Price | Fasting | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A (Retinol) | Test | $44.99 | Yes | 3–5 business days |
Common questions
Should I just take a vitamin A supplement?
Only after the cause is known and with a clinician setting the dose — the gap between correcting a deficiency and toxicity is narrower than for most vitamins, and pregnancy changes the limits further.
Educational content, not a diagnosis. Lab results are one input; a clinician interprets them with your history and exam.