Vitamin A is one of the essential vitamins, one of those that the body cannot do without.
It is vital for proper cell function, and on this page we will be looking at precisely how the body uses it, its sources both in plants and animals and how a lack of it manifests.
Vitamin A is an oil-soluble vitamin that is necessary for the repair of the body’s tissues.
It is essential in maintaining a healthy immune system - it helps to fight off infections.
There are a number of other known benefits of Vitamin A, and they are mainly derived from compounds within it such as retinoids.
Before we get to its sources, let’s first look at which bodily functions need vitamin A for optimum function, and what will happen if you don’t get enough of it.
What happens if you do not get enough vitamin A?
There are several things that will indicate a deficiency, but the one that should be of greatest concern is compromised immunity.
A compromised immune system is an opens the door to any disease.
If you’re not taking in enough vitamin A, the mucous membranes that would protect you have no ability to do so.
Without immunity, you may eat healthy, but contact with pathogens of any kind may leave you feeling ill.
The only problem here is that because one is open to so many conditions of all kinds, its hard to trace their cause back to a lack of vitamin A.
That’s what makes it dangerous, and eventually the symptoms may have to get worse and manifest in diseases that are directly related to a deficiency of vitamin A for a diagnosis.
There are also other side effects that come from a deficiency of vitamin A:
Sources of Vitamin A
You can find it in plentiful quantities in fish liver oils, egg yolks and butter.
It may be added to some margarines, but the best way to ensure that you get it is to take butter instead.
Liver, beef, yogurt and cheese will also contain vitamin A.
Yellow and orange fruits will also contain carotene, a component of vitamin A.
Carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, oranges, peaches and oatmeal are good plant sources.
Recommended Daily Allowance
In the US, the recommended RDA is that you take at least 1500 IU for infants, 3000 for children and 6000 for adults.
If you are taking it on a supplementary course, 10,000 IU is recommended. Prescription strength is 25,000 to 100,000 IU.
Stick to the recommended dosage as taking too much Vitamin A can have side effects.
The only way to prevent diseases that are caused by lack of vitamin A is to make sure that you take it all the time in your diet.
Remember that it’s an essential vitamin and that means that it’s easy to suffer a deficiency if you don’t get enough of it.
In most cases, after diagnosis, the doctor will put you on a course as well as a diet that will boost your body's vitamin A reserves.
Top of Vitamin A
Back to Vitamin Resources
Back to Home
Didn't find what you were looking for? Use the box below to search this entire site.
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.