What is Vitamin A?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, crucial for vision, immune function, and skin health. It's not one compound, but a group including retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid, essential for many body processes.
Vitamin A's Discovery
Discovered in 1913, Vitamin A was the first fat-soluble vitamin identified. Elmer McCollum and M. Davis isolated it, initially naming it 'Fat-Soluble A,' highlighting its dietary significance.
Sources of Vitamin A
Dietary Vitamin A comes in two forms: preformed from animal products like liver, and provitamin A from plants, such as beta-carotene in carrots. Both are converted by the body into usable vitamin A.
Night Vision and Vitamin A
Vitamin A's role in vision is profound. It produces pigments for the retina, and deficiency can lead to night blindness. Surprisingly, too much can also cause vision problems.
Immunity and Skin Benefits
Beyond vision, Vitamin A ensures the integrity of skin and mucous barriers, protecting against infections. It also aids in the production and function of white blood cells.
Vitamin A Toxicity Risk
Unlike water-soluble vitamins, excess Vitamin A is stored in the liver and can be toxic. Symptoms range from headaches to liver damage, emphasizing the need for balanced intake.
The Golden Rice Innovation
Golden Rice, genetically modified to produce beta-carotene, aims to combat Vitamin A deficiency in regions where rice is a staple food, potentially saving millions from blindness and death.
What compounds compose Vitamin A?
Retinol, retinal, retinoic acid
Ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin
Niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin
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