Vitamin A plays numerous important roles in the body. It is essential for reproduction, growth and development and it helps to maintain your eyes, skin and immune system. Vitamin A is essential for cell growth, development and communication between the cells in the body. Therefore, it plays an important role in ensuring the optimal function and maintenance of a variety of organs such as the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. It is commonly said that you need to eat carrots to ensure that you can maintain perfect vision and this is because vitamin A plays an important role in maintaining healthy eyesight. In addition, vitamin A also plays an important role in the differentiation and functioning of the cornea and conjunctival membranes of the eye.
Food Sources
Vitamin A is most commonly found in animal foods however, it can also be formed from carotenoids. Carotenoids are phytonutrients found in various plant-based foods. An easy way to remember which foods contain carotenoids is to search for fruits and vegetables by colour. Bright yellow, orange, red and green fruits and vegetables contain carotenoids. There are several different carotenoids and they all have different functions. Beta-carotene is a specific carotenoid that can be converted into vitamin A in the body. Fish liver oils, liver, egg yolks, butter, and cream are sources of preformed natural vitamin A. Low-fat and non-fat milks and margarine are significant sources of vitamin A, because they are fortified. Some good sources of β-carotene are dark-green leafy vegetables such as collard greens, kale, and spinach as well as dark-orange vegetables and fruits such as carrots, sweet potatoes or yams, pumpkins, melon, and apricots.
Deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency is more prevalent in third-world countries where individuals have poor access to animal protein, other animal products as well as fruits and vegetables high in beta-carotene. A deficiency in vitamin A has the most severe health consequences for infants, growing children as well as pregnant and lactating women. Many newborn babies are not breastfed, nor do they receive the correct quantities of formula in developing countries, this can result in a vitamin A deficiency. Due to poor hygiene and sanitation resources, many infants and children suffer from chronic diarrhoea in developing countries. This extreme and continuous loss of nutrients contributes to vitamin A deficiency. The most common symptom of a vitamin A deficiency is xeropthalmia which is initially characterised by the inability to see as it gets darker. As it progresses, xeropthalmia characteristic Bitot spots start to develop in the eye, making it relatively easy to identify. A vitamin A deficiency can also affect your immune system, making you more susceptible to infection as well as thyroid function. Hypervitaminosis A side effects depend on how much vitamin A you have consumed and how quickly it was consumed. Typical side effects include dizziness, nausea, headaches, pain in your joints and bones as well as skin irritations. In more severe cases, excess vitamin A can lead to an increase in intracranial pressure, a coma and even death. Some individuals have experienced a side effect of eating too many carrots. Carrots are high in beta-carotene which is a yellow-orange pigment. In excess beta-carotene can result in discolouration of the skin, making the skin appear yellow. While this may look a bit strange, it is not harmful to your health.
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