Vitamin A
Vitamin A, also called retinol, performs various functions in your body. Retinol, retinaldehyde, retinoic acid, and several provitamins A carotenoids are the chemical substances that make up the vitamin A group. The main dietary form of retinol is retinyl esters, which, when stored in the liver, may have a fatty acid molecule attached.
What are common sources of Vitamin A?
Adding beta-carotene to your diet helps compensate for Vitamin A deficiency, as the body can convert this into retinol.
Get vitamin A by consuming food sources of beta-carotene, such as:
- Yellow, red and green (leafy) vegetables, such as spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes and red peppers
- Yellow fruit, such as mango, papaya and apricots
If you are not lactose intolerant, you can consume cheese, eggs, oily fish, liver and liver products, fortified low-fat spreads, milk, and yogurt to meet your daily requirement for Vitamin A.
The deficiency of vitamin A may lead to night blindness. This calls for taking vitamin A supplements.
What is the recommended dietary allowance of Vitamin A?
The National Institute of Nutrition advises adults to consume 600–950 micrograms (g) of vitamin A per day— 600 g for men, pregnant women, and females who are not pregnant, and 950 g for lactating mothers.
What are the benefits of Vitamin A?
Vitamin A is essential for the human body, and its benefits are backed by research and studies. The following are the top benefits:
Improves eyesight: The well-established benefit of vitamin A is improved eyesight. It also prevents the age-related reduction in eyesight.
Boosts immunity: Maintaining your body’s natural defences depends heavily on vitamin A. This includes the mucous membranes in your eyes, lungs, and gut that serve as filters for bacteria and other contagious organisms.
Reduces acne: Taking vitamin A in optimal quantities reduces acne and spots.
Enhances bone strength: Vitamin A is essential for bone strength and growth.
Good for reproductive health: Vitamin A promotes the development of sperm and eggs in males and females, respectively.
Wound healing: Vitamin A increases the process of wound healing.
Lowers the severity of measles: Taking vitamin A in adequate quantities reduces the complexity of measles in children.
Top 5 Best Selling Vitamin A Supplements You Can Buy Online
NOW vitamin A soft gels: NOW’s vitamin A supplement is quality assured and promotes healthy living. One soft gel is to be taken after meals per day.
HealthyHey: HealthyHey is a premium brand manufacturing purely vegetarian vitamin A tablets.
Vitawin: Experience a healthy living with Vitawin’s Vitamin A capsules.
EternalHealth: Fulfil your daily requirements of vitamin A with EternalHealth’s vegan capsules.
Bronson: Give your body the care it deserves with Bronson’s vitamin A tablets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vitamin A
Is excessive consumption of vitamin A harmful?
Taking vitamin A supplements indiscriminately without seeing a doctor can have negative effects. The excessive consumption may result in severe headache, blurred vision, nausea, dizziness, muscle aches, and coordination issues.
How much vitamin A should I consume per day?
The National Institute of Nutrition advice adults to consume 600–950 micrograms (g) of vitamin A per day—600 g for men and females who are not pregnant.
What is the best time for vitamin A consumption?
It would be best to consume vitamin A pills and a meal high in fats.
Does vitamin A increase hair growth?
Vitamin A boosts cell growth, which indirectly leads to hair growth.
If I open the bottle seal and consume them after a year, will they be unsafe?
One year after opening the bottle, if the capsules are not used, they will deliver less vitamin A but are still safe to eat. But make sure to look at the expiration date.
Is Vitamin A consumption safe for pregnant women?
Besides avoiding Vitamin A supplements, it is highly recommended to avoid consumption of excess preformed vitamin A rich foods including liver and liver products such as pâté during pregnancy.
What is the ideal recommended dose of Vitamin A or retinol for lactating and pregnant women?
The recommended Vitamin A dietary intake in lactating women is 1300 mcg retinol daily and that for pregnant women is 770 mcg daily.
Which foods are rich in vitamin A content?
Preformed vitamin A content is high in foods like beef liver, fish, eggs, sweet potatoes, carrots, black-eyed peas, spinach, broccoli and dairy products.
Why vitamin A intake is crucial for health?
Vitamin A makes a positive impact on overall health controlling oxidative stress, boosting the immune system, and protecting against different kinds of diseases.
Which meal type is best for Vitamin A supplement optimal absorption?
Consume vitamin A supplements with a fat-containing meal as it enhances the vitamin A absorption in the body.
