Vitamin A, also called retinol, helps your eyes adjust to light changes when you come in from outside and also helps keep your eyes, skin and mucous membranes moist. Vitamin A is a general term that refers to fat-soluble compounds that are similar in structure and biologic activity to retinol. Vitamin A also refers to dietary precursors of vitamin A (6,11).
It is required for night vision, and for a healthy skin. It assists the immune system, and because of its antioxidant properties is great to protect against pollution and cancer formation and other diseases.
Vitamin A is one of the most versatile vitamins, with roles in such diverse functions as vision, immune defenses, maintenance of body linings and skin, bone and body growth, normal cell development, and reproduction. Vitamin A helps form and maintains healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucous membranes, and skin.
The human body can manufacture vitamin A from the carotene found in vegetables, or humans can consume vitamin A that has already been manufactured by animals through cheese, milk, egg yolk, liver, and butter.
Vitamin A is essential for vision. One of the earliest signs of this deficiency is night blindness. This is caused by a degeneration of the rods of the retina. The eyes may become swollen and weepy. Inflammation and abscess material may accumulate around the eye
Whole eggs, whole milk, and liver are among the few foods that naturally contain vitamin A. Vitamin A is present in the fat portion of whole milk, so it is not found in fat-free milk. Most fat-free milk and dried nonfat milk solids sold in the US are fortified with vitamin A.
Vitamin A deficiency usually results from malnutrition, but can also be due to abnormalities in intestinal absorption of retinol or carotenoids. Deficiency is prevalent in humans, especially children, in certain underdeveloped countries.
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