Vitamin A was discovered in 1913. It is fat-soluble vitamin. Vitamin A is also known as retinol or carotenoids. Vitamin A is an “anti-infective” vitamin because of its functions of supporting the immune system. It exists in several forms and not as a single compound.
What are the functions of the vitamin A?
Vitamin A aids formation and maintainance of healthy teeth, skin, skeletal and smooth muscles and mucous membranes. It produces the pigments in the eye’s retina and thus it is termed as retinol. It promotes good vision, particularly in low light. Vitamin A is also necessary for reproduction and breast feeding. It is also required for the proper functioning of our immune system.
What are the food sources of vitamin A?
Retinol or preformed vitamin A is found in sources of animal origin while carotenoid or provitamin A is found in fruits and vegetables. Our body can transform some members of the carotenoid family like alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and gamma-carotene into vitamin A. These carotenoids are sometimes referred as “provitamin A” and retinol as “preformed vitamin A.”
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