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Learn about vitamin A, a fat-soluble nutrient that supports your vision, immune system, and reproductive health. Find out the sources, functions, benefits, and risks of vitamin A, as well as how to avoid deficiency and toxicity.
Apr 1, 2024 · Learn which foods are rich in vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that supports vision, growth, immune function, and reproduction. Find out the difference between vitamin A1 (retinol) and provitamin A (carotenoids), and how to get enough of both from animal and plant sources.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, a category that also includes vitamins D, E and K. The vitamin encompasses several chemically related naturally occurring compounds or metabolites, i.e., vitamers, that all contain a β-ionone ring.
- Maintains healthy vision. One of vitamin A’s most important roles is to preserve and maintain your vision. It helps change the light that hits your eye into an electrical signal that can be sent to your brain.
- Aids immune system function. Vitamin A strengthens your immune system by supporting white blood cells and the mucus membranes in your lungs, intestines and urinary tract.
- Reduces your cancer risk. Vitamin A plays a key role in the healthy growth and development of your cells. But no one knows for sure if it also helps lower your risk of developing cancer.
- Keeps your skin clear. Many people claim vitamin A is an effective treatment for acne and age-related skin changes, including wrinkles and age spots. But it’s important to use vitamin A for skin health with care, whether you add vitamin A-rich foods to your diet or use vitamin A-based skin treatments like pills or creams.
Vitamin A is the name of a group of fat-soluble retinoids, primarily retinol and retinyl esters [1,2]. Vitamin A is involved in immune function, cellular communication, growth and development, and male and female reproduction .
As an oral supplement, vitamin A mainly benefits people who have a poor or limited diet or who have a condition that increases the need for vitamin A, such as pancreatic disease, eye disease or measles.
May 7, 2023 · From your vision to your immune system, vitamin A is vital for many important processes in your body. Here are 6 impressive health benefits of vitamin A.
