We all know vitamin A is the natural compound that we can usually get from natural foods and which plays an important role in our vision, Our doctor suggests us for having a good vision we have to eat vitamin A rich foods and have to add vitamin A to our diet plan.
But I had a curiosity from my childhood of vitamin A, and I had few questions about these nutrients that my parents and my teacher always said to eat green veggies and healthy foods, what was the reason behind it? They always answered as “They are very beneficial for healthy growth and our health” But what these nutrients are?
You’ll find some answer to questions which relates to vitamin A, So few questions are, What is Vitamin A? What is the importance of vitamin A? What are the alternate or other names of vitamin A and How much vitamin A is recommended or what is the recommended daily intake of vitamin A?
The 1st question first,
What is Vitamin A
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements(ods), Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in many foods. Vitamin A is important for normal vision, the immune system, and reproduction. Vitamin A also helps the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs work properly.
Wikipedia Says: “Vitamin A is a party of unsaturated nutritional organic compounds such as retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and several provitamin A carotenoids, and beta-carotene.”
Dr. Andrew Weil Says About Vitamin A ” Vitamin A is the blanket term for retinoids, biologically active compounds that occur naturally in both plant and animal tissues.”
The most important question is “what is the recommended daily intake or consumption of vitamin A.”
How Much Vitamin A Should You Have Per Day
Dr. Andrew Weil recommends for daily intake or consumption of vitamin A for adult and child different in the following way.
How much, and what kind, does an adult need?
Dr. Weil recommends 15,000 IU of mixed carotenoids per day. The antioxidant formula he suggests possesses compound such as beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lycopene, astaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin.
How much does a child need?
Dr. Weil suggests 5,000 IU of mixed carotenoids as part of a children’s per day multivitamin, but you should always consult with your pediatrician before beginning supplements.
Look at the below chart; The screenshot has taken from Office of Dietary Supplements(ODS)
We have found the definition & daily intake of vitamin A but what is the importance of Vitamin A?
Importance Of Vitamin A You Should Know
According To University of Maryland Medical Center(UMM), Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that has several important functions in the body.
- It helps cells reproduce normally, a process called cellular differentiation.
- It is essential for good vision. The first sign of a vitamin A deficiency is often poor sight at night.
- It is needed for the proper development of an embryo and fetus.
- Vitamin A helps keep skin and mucous membranes that line the nose, sinuses, and mouth healthy.
It also plays a role in
- Immune system function
- Growth
- Bone formation
- Reproduction
- Wound healing
Dr. Andrew Weil Says about important of vitamin A that “Vitamin A plays a vital role in bone growth, reproduction and immune system health. It also helps the skin and mucous membranes repel bacteria and viruses more effectively. It is essential to healthy vision, and may slow declining retinal function in people with retinitis pigmentosa.”
According to the vegetarian resource group(VGR), ” Vitamins are generally classed into two categories; fat soluble and water soluble. Water-soluble vitamins include the B vitamins and vitamin C. As their name implies, these vitamins dissolve in water. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble vitamins and dissolve in fat. Because of this, fat needs to be consumed along with the source of vitamin A for proper absorption.”
Vitamin A is a very crucial nutrient but It is, however, confusing because it has few different names, but generally, they don’t come to use in daily life. the 3rd question ” What are the other names of vitamin A?”
Other Names of Vitamin A
According to the National Library of Medicine(NLM), Alternate names of vitamin A are retinol, retinal, retinoic acid and carotenoids.
Few other names of vitamin A are following as available on RxList
3-Dehydroretinol, 3-Déhydrorétinol, Acétate de Rétinol, Antixerophthalmic Vitamin, Axerophtholum, Dehydroretinol, Déhydrorétinol, Fat-Soluble Vitamin, Oleovitamin A, Palmitate de Rétinol, Retinoids, Rétinoïdes, Retinol, Rétinol, Retinol Acetate, Retinol Palmitate, Retinyl Acetate, Rétinyl Acétate, Retinyl Palmitate, Rétinyl Palmitate, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin A1, Vitamin A2, Vitamina A, Vitamine A, Vitamine A1, Vitamine A2, Vitamine Liposoluble, Vitaminum A.Retinol; Retinal; Retinoic acid; Carotenoids