Vitamin A Benefits

 

Vitamin A Essentials 

Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin found abundantly in liver oils and fish especially halibut oil, cod liver oils, and certain types of fatty fish including salmon, herring, mackerel.  Vitamin A is also found in milk fat including dairy products eggs, cheese, yogurt are also good sources of vitamin A and D.  Vitamin A is a powerful nutrient with wide ranging benefits for the entire body including multiple functions, maintaining the immune system, supports white blood cell production to help fight infections, protect vision, helps regulate keratin production in the skin, and supports bone density.  Aiding in vision specifically combines with protein opsin to form rhodopsin, the light absorbing molecule necessary for low light scotopic vision and color vision.  The vitamin that works directly in vision is converted into retinaldehyde, a component of a light sensitive pigment rhodopsin (visual purple) which is present in the retina of the eye.  Retinoic acid is essential for maintenance of the epithelial tissues of the skin and mucous membrane lining of the body's internal body surfaces. 

Humans require a variety of minerals and vitamins for optimal health and these are best obtained through a balanced diet rich in whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables.  There are 13 essential vitamins A,C,D,E,K, and the B vitamins thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, B6, B12, folate.  Vitamin A is required by humans in small amounts to meet the recommended dietary intakes for adult women and men is 1,000 and 800 micrograms per day.  Deficiencies in vitamin A may result in various disorders with the most common involve the epithelial tissues and eye vision complications.  In humans the earliest signs of vitamin A deficiencies is night blindness (nyctalopia) the visual failure to adapt promptly to changes to light from light to darkness and see in the dark.  The aspect of vision is normally dependent on rhodopsin which maintains photosensitivity only present in vitamin A.  Vitamin A forms a part of the protein rhodopsin which absorbs light in retinal receptors supporting normal functions of the eye, cornea and conjunctiva. 

It plays an important role in helping the eyes adapt to light changes.  Carlson Vitamin A supplement is a soft gel vitamin 25000 IU, 100 soft gel count helps suppose the skin, bone, eye health, and  immune system.  Preformed vitamin A is found in animal sourced food which includes carotenoids, beta cryptoxanthin and beta carotene which occur in plants which is converted into vitamin A in the body when consumed.  Vitamin A is an essential fat soluble vitamin that supports the skin, bone immune system and eyes necessary for growth, cellular differentiation, and proliferation. Vitamin A is not present in plants but many vegetables and fruits contain one or more classes of pigments which can be converted into vitamin A in the body of these pigments provitamin A and beta-carotene are excellent sources of vitamin activity.  The existence of vitamin A was first clearly recognized in 1913 establishing its chemical nature in 1913 and was first synthesized in 1947. Vitamin A is readily destroyed upon exposure to light, heat, air conditions.

Vitamin A can improve skin tone, reducing inflammation, speeding up wound healing, protecting the skin from UV damage.  It also plays a role in reducing fine lines, wrinkles boosting collagen production and improving skin elasticity.  Cheers! 

Patricia Lynn

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