Facts About Vitamin A :Facts About Vitamin A


What Is Vitamin A? :What Is Vitamin A? Vitamin A is a group of compounds that play an important role in vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell division, and cell differentiation (in which a cell becomes part of the brain, muscle, lungs, blood, or other specialized tissue.). Vitamin A helps regulate the immune system, which helps prevent or fight off infections by making white blood cells that destroy harmful bacteria and viruses. Vitamin A also may help lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) fight infections more effectively.


Uses Of Vitamin A :Uses Of Vitamin A It helps cells reproduce normally—a process called differentiation (cells that have not properly differentiated are more likely to undergo pre-cancerous changes). It is required for vision; vitamin A maintains healthy cells in various structures of the eye and is required for the transduction of light into nerve signals in the retina. It is required for normal growth and development of the embryo and fetus, influencing genes that determine the sequential development of organs in embryonic development. It may be required for normal reproductive function, with influences on the function and development of sperm, ovaries and placenta.


Vitamin A Food Sources :Vitamin A Food Sources Both animal and plant foods have vitamin A activity. Retinol, also called preformed vitamin A, is the natural form found in animals. Carotenoids, found in plants, are compounds that the body can convert to vitamin A. Animal food like liver, dairy products and cod liver oil Plant food like spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots


Signs Of Vitamin A Deficiency :Signs Of Vitamin A Deficiency An early warning sign of vitamin A deficiency is the inability to see well in the dark, a condition called night blindness. If the deficiency is not corrected, the outer layers of the eyes become dry, thickened, and cloudy, eventually leading to blindness if left untreated. Vitamin A deficiency also causes dry and rough skin, making it take on a kind of "goose flesh" appearance. In addition, one can become more susceptible to infectious diseases. That's because a lack of vitamin A damages the lining of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, so they can't act as effective barriers against bacteria. Infections of the vagina and the urinary tract are also more likely. Treatment for children with xerophthalmia starts with large doses of vitamin A, decreasing to smaller amounts after a few days. Blindness can be averted if treatment is started before too much eye damage has occurred.


Too Much Vitamin A :Too Much Vitamin A Hypervitaminosis A refers to high storage levels of vitamin A in the body that can lead to toxic symptoms. There are four major adverse effects of hypervitaminosis A: Birth defects, Liver abnormalities, Reduced bone mineral density that may result in osteoporosis Central nervous system disorders


The End :The End By Cherie Ang Owner & Webmaster of SGProfitSite.com