Vitamin A

Vitamin A plays a vital role in maintaining the body’s natural defenses. This includes maintaining the integrity of skin, mucus barriers of lungs, gut, eyes, genitals that help to trap bacteria and viruses.

Vitamin A is involved in production and function of immune cells that capture and clean out infectious agents from body tissues.

Vitamin A is essential for preserving your eyesight. It is needed to convert light that hits your eye into an electrical signal that can be sent to your brain. So, vitamin A is responsible for color vision and low light vision.

Vitamin A is also helps maintain a healthy reproductive system in both men and women, as well as ensures the normal growth and development of embryos during pregnancy.

Vitamin A is also available in dietary supplements, usually in the form of retinol variants (like vitamin A palmitate) or beta-carotene, or both.

Breastmilk is the source of vitamin A in early life, so mom should consume a well-balanced diet to get an adequate amount of all nutrients including vitamin A. Maternal milk  for pregnant and lactating moms that is rich in vitamins and minerals, when used as a part of the diet, may help to achieve the daily recommended intake with ease.

Vitamin A deficiency is quite rare in developed countries, but if it happens it may lead to:

• Night blindness
• Impaired immune function, increased frequency and severity of infections, diarrhoea
• Skin issues (dry, scaly or itchy skin, acne)
• Pregnancy complications

People prone to vitamin A deficiency often are those who have problems with fat absorption (e.g. bariatric surgery, pancreatic insufficiency, short bowl syndrome).

Did You Know?

Vitamin A impacts immune health by stimulating responses that protect your body from illnesses and infections.

References:
¹ Singapore Health Promotion Board  https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/192/recommended_dietary_allowances  Assessed on October 28, 2022.
² Christopher Hodge; Christopher Taylor. National Library of Medicine  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK567744/ Assessed on October 28, 2022.

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