Dealing with persistently dry, gritty eyes might seem like a standalone problem requiring specialized eye drops or treatments.
But what if those irritated eyes, chronically dry mouth, and rough, bumpy skin on your arms are all pointing to the same underlying deficiency?
According to health educator Dr. Eric Berg, these seemingly unrelated symptoms share a common root cause that most people overlook.
In a recent video, Berg explained how one essential nutrient deficiency creates this trio of uncomfortable conditions—and why treating each symptom separately misses the bigger picture entirely.
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The Vitamin Behind Three Common Problems
Berg identifies vitamin A deficiency as the culprit behind dry eyes, dry mouth, and rough skin with tiny bumps.
The eyes, the mouth, and the skin all need as a base nutrient vitamin A to work correctly.
This vitamin plays a critical role in maintaining mucous membranes and lipid barriers—the protective fat layers that keep tissues properly hydrated and functioning.
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How Vitamin A Protects Your Eyes
The surface of your eyes contains three distinct protective layers: an inner mucous layer, a middle water layer, and an outer oil layer.
That innermost mucous layer functions like Velcro, holding tears in place and preventing eyes from drying out. Vitamin A-dependent cells regulate this essential mucus production.
When vitamin A levels drop too low, this protective system breaks down, leading to uncomfortable dryness and irritation.
Vitamin A’s Role in Skin Health
Beyond eyes and mouth, vitamin A regulates skin texture both externally and internally.
Vitamin A has everything to do with keeping your tissue soft, wet, having the right amount of mucus, and also to make sure that your skin does not turn into toad skin.
Without adequate vitamin A, skin can develop rough patches, bumps (especially on the back of arms), and even conditions like corns on feet.
The Critical Mistake Most People Make
Berg emphasizes that the biggest error people make involves confusing beta-carotene with vitamin A.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The single biggest mistake that people make with vitamin A is thinking that beta-carotene is vitamin A.
Many consume massive quantities of carrots and sweet potatoes, expecting to resolve their deficiency. However, beta-carotene is merely a precursor that must convert into retinol—the active form of vitamin A.
For most people, this conversion happens inefficiently. You’d need to eat pounds of carrots daily to obtain sufficient retinol through conversion alone.
Where to Find Active Vitamin A (Retinol)
Retinol comes directly from animal sources:
- Liver (the richest source)
- Egg yolks
- Salmon and seafood
- Butter
- Cheese
Berg shared his personal experience with severe vitamin A deficiency in his late twenties.
I had severe dry eyes. I had no idea it was a vitamin A deficiency. In fact, the inside of my eyelids were so dry and sticky that they turned bloodshot. And yes, I also had those bumps in the back of my arms.
Why You Might Still Be Deficient Despite Eating Vitamin A
Consuming vitamin A-rich foods doesn’t guarantee absorption. Several underlying issues can prevent your body from utilizing this fat-soluble vitamin effectively.
Gallbladder and Liver Problems
Bile, produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, is essential for breaking down dietary fats and extracting fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, K2, and omega-3 fatty acids.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
If you’ve had your gallbladder removed, have gallbladder dysfunction, or suffer from fatty liver disease, vitamin A absorption becomes compromised.
Berg recalls his own gallbladder struggles that lasted over a decade, causing tightness under his right rib cage and persistent right shoulder pain.
Low Stomach Acid
Insufficient hydrochloric acid in your stomach interferes with vitamin A absorption in two ways: it prevents proper digestion of vitamin A-containing foods, and it fails to trigger adequate bile release from the gallbladder.
Classic signs of low stomach acid include indigestion and acid reflux. Berg suggests taking betaine hydrochloride before meals to address this deficiency.
Imbalanced Fatty Acids
While not directly related to vitamin A, consuming excessive omega-6 fatty acids (found abundantly in seed oils) without adequate omega-3s can cause dry, flaky skin, particularly around the nose.
Seed oils hide in countless processed foods, fried items, and fast food restaurant meals. This widespread consumption creates significant omega-6 overload for most people.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Zinc Deficiency
Vitamin A stored in your liver requires zinc to transport it throughout your body to skin, eyes, and mouth.
In order for vitamin A that’s stored in the liver to come out and go into your skin, your eyes, your mouth, it needs to be transported with a little shuttle called zinc.
Without sufficient zinc, vitamin A remains trapped in the liver, unable to reach tissues that desperately need it.
Common causes of zinc deficiency include low stomach acid and consuming grain-heavy diets. Grains contain phytic acid, which blocks zinc absorption.
Signs of zinc deficiency include diminished sense of smell and reduced ability to taste foods. The richest zinc sources include oysters, shellfish, and red meat.
Why Berg Doesn’t Recommend Vitamin A Supplements
Despite the importance of vitamin A, Berg advises against supplementation.
I do not recommend that you ever take a supplement with vitamin A because most of them are synthetic. Get your vitamin A from food.
Natural food sources provide vitamin A in its most bioavailable form, along with complementary nutrients that enhance absorption and utilization.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Practical Steps to Address These Symptoms
If you’re experiencing dry eyes, dry mouth, or bumpy skin on your arms, consider these action steps:
- Increase retinol-rich foods—prioritize liver, egg yolks, fatty fish, butter, and quality cheese
- Support gallbladder function—especially if you’ve experienced digestive issues or had your gallbladder removed
- Address low stomach acid—consider betaine hydrochloride if you experience indigestion or reflux
- Optimize zinc intake—add oysters, shellfish, or red meat to your diet regularly
- Reduce seed oil consumption—avoid fried foods and processed items containing inflammatory omega-6 fats
These interconnected systems demonstrate how seemingly separate symptoms often share common nutritional roots. Rather than treating each issue with topical solutions, addressing the underlying vitamin A deficiency—and supporting your body’s ability to absorb and utilize it—offers a more comprehensive solution.
