Vitamin A is important for healthy skin and eyes and a strong immune system.
It’s also needed for proper growth, development, and reproductive health.
There are two sources of vitamin A: preformed vitamin A and carotenoids.
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It’s a fat-soluble nutrient, meaning it needs fat to be effectively absorbed in the digestive tract.
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What Are Some Effects of Vitamin A on Health?
No supplement is intended to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
In AMD, blood leaks into themacula, which is the center of theretinain the back of the eye.
The macula helps you see fine details.
Since vitamin A toxicity is possible, however, speak with a healthcare provider before taking this vitamin.
This includes people who currently or formerly smoked and people who had exposure toasbestos.
Based on these articles, the evidence regarding the relationship between vitamin A and cancer is mixed.
Results from a systematic review showed vitamin A supplementation reduced the number of new measles cases in children.
Interestingly, however, vitamin A supplementation didn’t affect the number of deaths from measles.
Vitamin A supplementation generally decreased the risk ofmorbidity and mortalityin children.
Morbidity is the state of having a medical condition, and mortality is death.
But additional clinical trials are still necessary to study vitamin A doses and various ways vitamin A is given.
However, low vitamin A levels in developing countries are more commonespecially in pregnant and breastfeeding people.
Infantsparticularly preterm infantsand children are also at a higher risk.
People in developing countries may also have difficulties accessing foods with vitamin A or provitamin A carotenoids.
Low vitamin A is also more likely with certain groups of people or in people with certain medical conditions.
What Causes a Vitamin A Deficiency?
Potential causes of vitamin A deficiency also include:
Am I Getting Enough Vitamin A?
If you live in the United States, you’re likely getting enough vitamin A.
What Are the Side Effects of Vitamin A?
As with many medications and natural products, vitamin A supplements may have side effects.
Additionally, vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.
The body stores excess amounts, primarily in the liver.
These levels can accumulate over time, potentially increasing the possibility of toxicity.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is the daily amount of vitamins or minerals needed.
RDAs may vary based on age, sex, pregnancy, and breastfeeding status.
Upper limits (ULs) are the maximum amounts of a vitamin or mineral people should ingest daily.
Amounts ingested above the daily UL may produce side effects or toxicity.
The following includes information about different populations' RDAs and ULs.
Additional clinical trials are still necessary to study different vitamin A doses and various ways vitamin A is given.
If you plan to use vitamin A, follow a healthcare provider’s recommendations or product label instructions.
Vitamin A Toxicity
If you take too much vitamin A, toxicity is possible.
Does Vitamin A Interact With Medications or Other Dietary Supplements?
Limited information about possible vitamin A interactions with medications or other dietary supplements exists.
Although food sources are preferable, there is still a place for supplements for people with nutrient absorption problems.
This may happen to people in certain age groups or with certain medical conditions.
What Foods Have Vitamin A?
Generally, there are two sources of vitamin Apreformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids.
That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says.
Summary
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble, essential vitamin for several normal bodily functions.
Your body needs fat to absorb it.
Vitamin A deficiency in the United States is rare.
Some of the evidence for vitamin A is mixed.
Vitamin A and beta-carotene supplements tend to have a much higher concentration of these nutrients than foods.
It’s essential to ensure the diagnosis and treatment of your medical conditions are completed on time.
Avoid self-diagnosing and/or self-treating conditions that may be potentially serious.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.
It’s also an essential vitamin because it’s necessary for a number of normal bodily functions.
It’s also essential for normal growth, development, and reproductive health.
Moreover, vitamin A affects your heart, lungs, and other organs.
Vitamin A supplements are available in a few different dosage formswith capsules being the most common.
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