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VITAMIN A IN-DEPTH

Vitamin A (retinol) is required for the proper development and functioning of eyes, skin, immune system, and many other parts of our bodies. It supports bone and tooth growth, and reproduction. Vitamin A is commonly known as the anti-infective vitamin, because it is required for normal functioning of the immune system. Vitamin A supplementation might be useful in treating eye disorders including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and cataracts. Vitamin A supplementation has been found to decrease both the severity and incidence of deaths related to diarrhea. Premenopausal women who get high levels of vitamin A from their diet seem to be at lower risk of getting breast cancer. Vitamin A supplementation have been useful in the treatment of psoriasis, and severe acne.

Vitamin A deficiencies include impaired dark adaptation or night blindness. Severe or prolonged vitamin A deficiency causes xerophthalmia, characterized by changes in the cells of the cornea that ultimately result in corneal ulcers, scarring, and blindness. Only mildly deficient in vitamin A have a higher incidence of respiratory disease and diarrhea as well as a higher rate of mortality from infectious disease.

Significant food sources: mango, broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, tomato juice, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, beef liver.