This vitamin is part of the retinoid family

Therefore, it is needed by the retina of the eye, the part that helps the light absorbing retinal

Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin

Chemically this vitmain is broken down into an “ester” and a beta-ionone ring

Night blindness may occur when not intaking enough of this vitamin

Can be found in 2 types of forms in foods

1.)  Retinol – absorbed from animal sources

2.)  Carotenes

    –   Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Xanthophyll types

    -   These are then converted inside the body to Retinol

Souces include:

   -    Carrots
   -    Broccoli leaves
   -    Eggs
   -    Liver
   -    Spinach
   -    Peas
   -    Butter
   -    Many fruits
   -    others

Functions of vitamin A

   -    Vision
   -    Immune system
   -    Skin health
   -    Bone metabolism
   -    many others

Overdose can cause toxicity

Metabolic Functions

1.)   Bone Metabolism
2.)   Vision
3.)   Skin Health
4.)   Acne
5.)   Immune Function
6.)   Antioxidant Activity
7.)   Embryo development
8.)   Embryo function
9.)   others