Significance Of Vitamin A

Vitamin A is one of the most powerful antioxidants available in nature. It helps in fighting infection, strengthens respiratory system and bladder, restores eye sight and, neutralizes the free radical which damages cell membranes.

Vitamin A is vital for healing and rejuvenation of the cells after an injury or surgery.

Vegetarians need to consume an extra amount of vitamin A by including vitamin A rich foods in their diet. Women suffering from PMS need to take supplements of vitamin A.Those who are suffering from heavy periods also need to increase the quantity of vitamin A in their diet.

Those who smoke and consume alcohol frequently must take extra vitamin A to deal with damage caused to the membranes by these substances.

Deficiency

Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include reduced ability to see in night, dry eyes, night blindness, eye inflammation, dry skin and weak immune system which leads to frequent respiratory and urinary infection.

The skin suffers and acne may appear, along with a scaly dry surface. Deficiency of vitamin A is not very common because it is available naturally in many food items.

But lack of absorption of vitamin A in the body may occur due to medical conditions like pancreatic insufficiency, chronic diarrhea, bile duct obstruction and giardiasis.

Natural Sources of Vitamin A

An average adult male needs to consume 5000 IU. Women need to have a daily intake of 4000 IU. Carotenoids, also called the `provitamin A`, and retinol comprise of complete vitamin A source.

Retinol is found in cream, cooked herring, cheddar cheese, fortified margarine, liver sausage, butter, fish, cow`s milk, fish and  m.

Carotenoids are easily converted into vitamin A by the body as and when needed. Natural food sources include pumpkin, parsley, tomato puree, broccoli, apricots, sweet potatoes and spinach.

Toxicity

Early symptoms of vitamin toxicity include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, irritability and abdominal pain. In case of chronic toxicity symptoms include coarse hair, weakness, vulnerability to fractures, irritability, loss of appetite and alopecia of eyebrows.

Pregnant women must avoid high doses of vitamin A as it may lead to birth related defect. Even a single high dose of vitamin A, commonly taken through liver, is sufficient to cause toxicity. For the same reason carrot juice must not be taken every day.