Vitamin A
Posted by ecostinger on 1st Nov 2014
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that we can find in many foods. It is important for the immune system, vision, reproduction, production of spermatozoa (male reproductive cells, growth and bone development also studies shows that it helps the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs work properly, it is essential for our health. Vitamin A also functions in a very different role as retinoic acid (an irreversibly oxidized form of retinol), which is an important hormone-like growth factor for epithelial and other cells. As an antioxidant vitamin A helps skin to repair, stay moist, and produce the enzymes that stabilize the production of collagen and it is often added to skin creams. Vitamin A works like antioxidants it destroy free radicals and help us stay younger.
Vitamin A is a large group of related nutrients and each of these nutrients provides health benefits in different way. Always check with your dr. especially pregnant women because it might affect the development of the baby.
Most foods especially all orange fruits, cod liver oil, Liver (turkey, beef, pork, fish, chicken) , Dandelion greens, Sweet potato, carrot, Broccoli (leaf, florets), Butter , Kale, Spinach, Pumpkin, Collard greens, Cheddar, cheese, Cantaloupe melon, Egg, Apricot, Papaya , Mango , Pea , Milk Tomatoes, Seaweed, contains natural vitamin A or the beta-carotene that becomes Vitamin A inside the body.
Advantages and disadvantages of vitamin A:
Vitamin A is essential for health but excess storage of vitamin A may have disadvantages on our health and body.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness among children. Many children suffering from “hidden Hunger” . As mentioned in Vitamin Angels “In 2014, we are addressing the global need for vitamin A by targeting nearly 40 million children with high dose vitamin A supplementation”
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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Low Vitamin A |
Too much Vitamin A Hypervitaminosis A |
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| Better vision/eyesight especially for avoiding night blindness |
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Night blindness | Headache |
| Better gene transcription |
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Thickening of the corneas | Nausea |
| For treatment of dermatological diseases |
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Spots on the corneas | Vomiting |
| smooth and healthy looking skin |
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Hazy corneas | Birth defects in a fetus |
| Helps build resistance to colds |
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Blindness | Liver problems |
| Provides resistance to infections by keeping moist the mucous membranes that line your mouth, respiratory passage, and urinary tract |
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Scaly skin |
Brittle bones
(after years of chronic toxicity) |
| increases our body’s immunity, thereby, helps body safeguard against cancer |
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Thickening of the skin | Brittle hair and nails |
| Helps the body counter damaging effects of stress |
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50% mortality rate in children when severe deficiency occurs | Dry hair |
| Aids in wound healing |
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Reduced immunity | Peeling skin |
| Necessary for the normal functioning of the middle ear |
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Growth retardation in the young | Rash |
| Protects bowel and is useful in treating Crohn’s disease |
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Inability to fight infection in the young | Drowsiness |
| Protects the lungs |
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Respiratory tract infections | Dry eyes |
| Helps build healthy teeth |
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General stomach pain |
| slow down collagen breakdown |
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Blurred vision |
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Bone pain |
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Decreased appetite |
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Increased intracranial pressure |
All vitamins are essential to our health but avoid taking high doses or exceeding the recommended daily allowance (RDA) which may cause health problems. As excess vitamin A is stored in liver it can lead to liver problem.
According to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, "RDAs are set to meet the needs of almost all (97 to 98%) individuals in a group
|
Life stage group |
RDA Adequate intakes (AI*) μg/day |
Upper limit μg/day |
|
Infants
0–6
months
|
400
|
600 600 |
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Children
1–3
years
|
300 400 |
600
|
|
Males
9–13
years
|
600
|
1700
|
|
Females
9–13
years
|
600
|
1700
|
Vitamin A in sunscreens :
Vitamin A is an antioxidant added to skin products because manufacturers believe it slows skin aging but it is preferable to be used indoors or in night creams. A study by U.S. government scientists suggests that retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight (NTP 2012).
Sun Protection Tips:
Always wear sun protective clothing when outdoor, including wide brim sun hat or legionnaire cap for neck protection, also sunsglasses and use sunscreens on exposed skin. When on the beach it is essential to use UV protection swimwear specially for kids, protecting the skin from an early age will help in avoiding skin damage and skin cancer in later years.
