VITAMIN A & ITS HEALTH BENEFITS:

INTRODUCTION:

                        Vitamin A is a very important vitamin that plays a vital role in various bodily functions, most importantly vision, immune system function, reproduction, and cell growth. It is an essential nutrient, it cannot be produced by the body, should be obtained from the diet and it is stored in fatty tissues. Vitamin A deficiency is common in developing and under developed countries, especially in children and also people with intestinal disorders.

 

TYPES OF VITAMIN A:

                    There are two main forms of vitamin A, retinoid and carotenoid. Retinoids are found in animal-based foods like meat, liver, fish, and dairy products. Carotenoid are plant pigments that are converted by the body into vitamin A. Carotenoid sources includes carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, other leafy green vegetables, as well as fruits like mangoes and apricots.

 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF VITAMEN A:

Here are some key functions and benefits of vitamin A:

VISION:

The best known function of Vitamin A is in vision & eye health. Vitamin A is necessary for the synthesis of rhodopsin, a pigment found in the cells of the retina that enables vision in low light conditions and also helps in colour vision. It also helps maintain the health of the cornea and conjunctiva (the outermost layer of eye).

 

ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTY:

Precursor forms of vitamin A carotenoids such as beta carotene, alpha carotene, and beta cryptoxanthin and have antioxidant properties. They neutralize free radicals (highly reactive compounds that can harm the body).

IMMUNE SYSTEM:

Vitamin A is involved in the development and differentiation of immune cells, helping to support the body's defense against infections. Vitamin A helps in the growth and distribution of T cells (type of white blood cells) that ultimately protects your body from infection.

 

CELL GROWTH AND DIFFERENTIATION:

Vitamin A plays a vital role in the growth and specialization of cells in various tissues and organs, including the skin, respiratory system, and gastrointestinal tract.

 

SKIN HEALTH:

Vitamin A supports the maintenance of healthy skin by promoting cell turnover and regulating sebum production. It is often used topically or in the form of retinol derivatives in skincare products. Vitamin A Topical (Ointment form) and oral, is common prescription treatments for acne and other skin conditions, including wrinkles

 

CANCER:

People who eat a lot of foods containing vitamin A have a lower risk of some kinds of cancer. But no there is no evidence to prove vitamin A supplements helps in preventing death from cancer.

AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD):

Age-related macular degeneration is the loss of central vision in old age. It’s the most common cause of vision loss in older people. Taking supplement containing vitamins C and E, zinc, and copper with Vitamin A helps slow down the rate of vision loss in people with AMD.

 

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH:

Vitamin A is important for normal reproduction processes in both males and females. It improves the reproductive health by participating in the development of egg and sperm. Therefore, Vitamin A is a good addition for pregnant ladies as well as people trying to conceive.

 

DEVELOPMENT OF FETUS:

Vitamin A is essential for the health of your developing baby. It supports cell growth of the fetus, his immune function and achieving the developmental milestones, particularly for the formation of organs and tissues.

 

PREVENTION OF DISEASES:

People who use diets high in Vitamin A (especially carotenoids) tend to have low risk of development of certain disease such as heart disease, lung cancer, and diabetes mellitus.