Vitamin A

Definition

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient that plays a crucial role in maintaining vision, skin health, and immune function.

Scientific / Technical Definition

Vitamin A is a group of unsaturated nutritional organic compounds that includes retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and several provitamin A carotenoids. It is essential for various bodily functions including visual cycle modulation, immune function regulation, and cellular communication.

Benefits

• Supports healthy vision and prevents night blindness
• Boosts the immune system
• Promotes skin health and may reduce the risk of acne
• Facilitates normal growth and development
• Contributes to reproductive health

Examples

• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes
• Spinach
• Kale
• Eggs
• Liver

Additional Information

• knownIssues: Consuming too much Vitamin A in the form of supplements can lead to toxicity, with symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and even more severe effects like liver damage.

Related Terms

• Retinol
• Carotenoids
• Vitamin C
• Beta-Carotene

References

• Vitamin A: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals
• Vitamin A – Consumer