Health functions
Vitamin A (retinol) plays an essential role in healthy vision, normal functioning of the immune system, embryonic development, and red blood cells. Read More
Vitamin A is a term for a large number of related compounds (e.g., retinol, retinal, retinoic acid), which are known as ’retinoids’.
The vitamin A form found in foods that come from animals is retinol, mostly as retinylesters (also called ’preformed vitamin A’), a yellow, fat-soluble vitamin, and the precursor of the most active form of vitamin A (retinoic acid) used in the body.
The vitamin A form found in fruits and vegetables is called ’provitamin A carotenoid’ (e.g. beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin), which can be converted into retinol in the body.
Authored by Dr Peter Engel in 2010, reviewed by Dr. Adrian Wyss on 31.08.2017.
Vitamin A (retinol) plays an essential role in healthy vision, normal functioning of the immune system, embryonic development, and red blood cells. Read More
Because of the possible roles of vitamin A in reversing tumor development and boosting immune function, it has been proposed that retinol might help reduce cancer risk. Read More
Things to know about Vitamin A
Retinitis pigmentosa, the progressive loss of photoreceptor cells in the eye's retina (20), results in a loss of peripheral and central vision over time. Read More
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of Vitamin A is dependent on age, gender, and other factors. Read More
Surveys undertaken in several countries suggest that intake patterns vary considerably across Europe and the U.S. The number of people at risk of vitamin A deficiency depends on the intake of total vitamin A, which is defined as preformed (retinol) plus provitamin A (e.g. beta-carotene). Read More
The earliest symptoms of vitamin A (beta-carotene) deficiency is impaired dark adaptation or night blindness. Read More
