---
title: "What does a low Vitamin A (Retinol) mean?"
type: biomarker-interpretation
url: "https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/vitamin-a-retinol/low"
biomarker: Vitamin A (Retinol)
direction: low
reference_range:
  - "age 18+: 38.0 – 98.0 mcg/dL"
reviewed_at: 2026-09-08
review_status: reviewed
date_published: 2026-09-05
---

# What does a low Vitamin A (Retinol) mean?

> 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.


## 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.

## What are the common causes of low Vitamin A (Retinol)?

1. Fat malabsorption: celiac disease, Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic insufficiency, bile-acid deficiency
2. Bariatric surgery, especially bypass procedures
3. Very low-fat or restrictive diets, alcohol use disorder, malnutrition
4. Zinc deficiency, liver disease
5. 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 at TestWell: [Zinc](https://www.test-well.com/tests/zinc) ($26.99), [C-Reactive Protein (CRP)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/crp) ($26.99).

## How do you recheck Vitamin A (Retinol)?

| Test or panel | Type | Price | Fasting | Results |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Vitamin A (Retinol)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/vitamin-a) | Test | $44.99 | Yes | 3–5 business days |

Plus one $6 lab processing fee per order; physician authorization included.

## 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.

## Related

- [What does a high Vitamin A (Retinol) mean?](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/vitamin-a-retinol/high)
- [Vitamin A (Retinol) reference ranges](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/vitamin-a-retinol)
- [Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy reference range](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/vitamin-d-25-hydroxy)
- [Vitamin B12 reference range](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/vitamin-b12)
- [Folate reference range](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/folate)

## Sources

- [Mayo Clinic Labs](https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/overview/42359)
- [Testing.com (AACC) — Vitamin A Blood Test: Order, Results & What They Mean](https://www.testing.com/tests/vitamin-a/)

---

Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-09-08. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/editorial-policy

Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/vitamin-a-retinol/low
Machine-readable catalog: https://www.test-well.com/api/catalog.json · MCP server: https://www.test-well.com/mcp · Overview for agents: https://www.test-well.com/llms.txt

Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.