What is Vitamin A?:
Vitamin A is a group of compounds that play a very important role in the body. There are two categories of Vitamin A, preformed Vitamin A, which generally comes from food from animals, and provitamin A carotenoid, which is found in fruits and vegetables.

Sources of Vitamin A:
Preformed Vitamin A comes from foods that are derived from animals such as eggs, milk, and beef liver. Many other foods are fortified with preformed Vitamin A to help our bodies obtain the amounts we need to perform a variety of processes.

Provitamin A carotenoid comes from either fruits or vegetables. Carrots are a main contributor of provitamin A carotenoid, as are spinach, cantaloupe, and sweet potatoes. Although these are good sources of provitamin A carotenoid, they must be consumed in greater amounts because the body does not absorb provitamin A carotenoid as well as it absorbs preformed Vitamin A that comes from animals.

Role of Vitamin A in the Body: Vitamin A is very important to vision in the human body. This nutrient aids in maintaining health surface linings of the eyes, respiratory, urinary, and intestinal tracts (Vitamin A). Additionally, Vitamin A supports the body’s immune system through its help in synthesizing white blood cells, and possibly increasing effectiveness of white blood cells.

Vitamin A Deficiency:
Vitamin A deficiency is a result of not acquiring enough Vitamin A through diet. One of the main symptoms of Vitamin A deficiency is blindness. Without Vitamin A, the cornea becomes very dry, and this in turn can cause damage to the retina. Additionally, inadequate amounts of Vitamin A can lead to decreased ability to fight infection. Vitamin A deficiency is very uncommon the United States. It is more prevalent in developing countries where access to sources of Vitamin A is limited.

Recommended Intake of Vitamin A:
According to the National Institute of Health, adult males should have a Vitamin A intake of approximately 3,000IU while women should acquire 700IU. Children should take between 1,000IU and 2,000IU based on age. (source)

More Information on Vitamin A: