Vitamin A - what is it?
Vitamin A , New RDA* 800 µg RE
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. This means you don't need it every day because any of the vitamins your body doesn't need immediately is stored for future use.
The primary sources of vitamin A are the precursor compounds, the carotenoids, which are largely plant derived and retinyl esters found in foods of animal origin.
*Sourced from EFSA WEBSITE
Vitamin A - what does it do?
Important for the normal structure and functioning of the skin and body linings, e.g. in lungs.
It also helps with vision in dim light as well as keeping the immune system healthy.
Vitamin A is essential to the processes of vision, reproduction, embryonic development, morphogenesis, growth and cellular differentiation. With the exception of the visual process, most processes are related to the control of gene expression, with vitamin A metabolites, such as retinoic acid, acting as nuclear receptor-ligands.
Deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency is a problem largely in developing countries. It can lead to night blindness and xerophthalmia, growth retardation, keratinisation of epithelia, impaired hearing, taste and smell, increased susceptibility to infection, increased child mortality and reduced male fertility. In pregnancy, vitamin A deficiency can result in malformations in offspring. Deficiency in the developed world is usually limited to those with absorption difficulties, increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections, chronic liver disease and alcoholics.
Vitamin A - Sources
Liver, whole milk, cheese, butter, margarine, carrots, dark green leafy vegetables and orange-coloured fruits, e.g. mangoes and apricots.
