Vitamin a
Vitamin A
Vitamin A (pronunciation: /ˈvaɪtəmɪn eɪ/) is a group of unsaturated nutritional organic compounds that includes retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and several provitamin A carotenoids (most notably beta-carotene).
Etymology
The term "Vitamin A" comes from the Latin word "vita" meaning "life" and the suffix "-amine" which was originally thought to be a part of the structure of all vitamins.
Function
Vitamin A plays a crucial role in maintaining normal vision, immune system function, reproduction, and cellular communication. It is also essential for the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs to function properly.
Sources
Vitamin A can be found in two principal forms in foods:
- Retinol: The form of vitamin A absorbed when eating animal food sources, such as poultry, fish, and meat.
- Provitamin A carotenoids: Found in plant-based foods like fruits and vegetables. The most common type of pro-vitamin A is beta-carotene.
Deficiency
Vitamin A deficiency is a risk factor for severe infections and can lead to problems with the eyes and skin. Symptoms can include night blindness, dry skin, poor growth, and weak immunity.
Overdose
Excessive consumption of Vitamin A can lead to hypervitaminosis A, which can cause nausea, irritability, anorexia, vomiting, blurry vision, headaches, hair loss, muscle weakness, and abdominal pain.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Vitamin a
- Wikipedia's article - Vitamin a
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