Vitamin A is a group of compounds vital for vision, immune function, cell growth, and reproduction. It exists in various forms, including retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and carotenoids.
Vitamin A is a group of unsaturated nutritional organic compounds that includes retinol, retinal (retinaldehyde), retinoic acid, and several provitamin A carotenoids (most notably beta-carotene). Vitamin A has multiple functions, including roles in vision, immune function, cell growth and differentiation, and reproduction. It is essential for maintaining healthy vision, supporting immune function, and ensuring proper growth and development.
Key Information
Inside Body Harmful Score
Common Dosage
Oral: 900 mcg RAE (males), 700 mcg RAE (females). Topical: Varies by product concentration.
Source Type
Natural (found in animal and plant sources), Synthetic
Production Process
Vitamin A can be extracted from natural sources like fish liver oil or synthesized chemically from beta-ionone.
Use Type
Inside BodyClassification & Quality
Dietary Category
Vitamins
The type of dietary ingredient this is
Primary Category
Vitamin A
Efficacy Tier
Tier 2: Moderate/Standard
Reliable forms that work well but require minor 1-2 step conversions. Good balance of cost and effectiveness.
Retinol requires conversion to retinal and retinoic acid to be fully active. Retinyl esters (like retinyl palmitate) require hydrolysis before conversion to retinol, adding a step, however these are still more efficient than carotenoids.
Conversion Steps
1
Minor conversion needed
Number of metabolic steps the body needs to convert this ingredient into its usable form
Potential Benefits
Vision Health focuses on maintaining and improving eyesight through nutrition, regular eye exams, and protection from UV radiation. It supports visual acuity, protects against eye diseases, reduces eye strain, and enhances night vision.
Skin Health (Acne) focuses on managing acne by reducing inflammation, minimizing breakouts, promoting healing, and regulating sebum production for clearer skin and reduced scarring.
Possible Side Effects
High doses or prolonged use of Vitamin A, especially orally, can cause dry eyes and other mucous membrane dryness. Topical retinal is less likely to cause this side effect than oral Vitamin A.
Scientific Evidence
Numerous studies support Vitamin A's role in vision (Sommer, 2008), immune function (Semba, 1999), and growth (Thurnham, 1995). The Linus Pauling Institute provides comprehensive reviews on Vitamin A research.
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