Vitamin A

Chemical Formula/ structure:

3,7-dimethyl-9-[(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexenyl)]nona-2,4,6,8-tetraen-1-ol

Reference- http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?sid=3137

Natural Sources of this nutrient in foods

The best sources of Vitamin A are whole eggs, milk, and liver. Orange fruits and green vegetables also contain Vitamin A. Grain products have about 15-20 percent of Vitamin A in a day. Whole milk and grain products also supply about 20 percent of Vitamin A. Some fruits and vegetables that contain Vitamin A are: watermelon, cantaloup, broccoli, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, and plums.

http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/980793489.html

How it is used by the body

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. Vitamin A helps keep your skin and hair healthy. It also plays an important role in bone growth, vision, tooth developement, and reproduction. This is because Vitamin A contains retinoic acid which helps celluar developement and body processes. Vitamin A helps white blood cells called lymphocytes function more effectively and fight off different infections in your body. By helping your skin stay healthy, Vitamin A prevents bacteria and viruses entering into your body. However, too much Vitamin A can be toxic.

Reference: http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/980793489.html

Effects if this Nutrient is not present

If Vitamin A is not present in your body it can be very harmful on your eyes. Lack of Vitamin A can lead to blindness or serious complications with different infectious diseases. The lack of vitamin A dries out the eye and damages the cornea of the eye which continues to damage the retina. Some other affects are dry skin and is harder to fight infections. This can also increase the bodys chance of developing respiratory and digestional infections. Without Vitamin A it is more hard to survive from a serious disease. Growth rate in and our of your body also decreases without consuming any Vitamin A.

http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/980793489.html

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