posted by Administrator on Sunday, July 13th, 2008 at 12:00 am and is filed under vitamins. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Site Search:
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin which is stored primarily in the liver. Vitamin A is available in two forms:
- Retinol, which is found in animal products.
- Beta carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A.
Key Functions
- Vitamin A is essential for healthy skin, eyesight, growth and reproduction.
- Beta carotene is a powerful antioxidant that reduces the risk of aging process and protects health conditions by regulating the immune system.
- Vitamin A promotes the growth of strong teeth and bones.
- Vitamin A is essential for the formation of visual purple, a pigment that allows you to see in dim light.
Food Sources
- Vitamin A is present in liver, cod liver oil, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
- Retinol is found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy products.
- Beta carotene is present in orange and yellow fruits and vegetables and dark, leafy greens.
Usage
A recommended intake of 900 micrograms for men, 700 micrograms for women and upper limit – 3,000 micrograms.
Safety Evidence
When relying on food sources, be aware that vitamin A and beta carotene can be destroyed by heat. Excess intake may cause birth effects, liver abnormalities, may cause osteoporosis in some cases.
Effects of Deficiency
- Night blindness
- Diminishing ability to fight infections
- Skin may appear dry and flaky
read comments (0)
