VITAMIN A is essential for growth processes (especially in young organisms), for the proper condition of the mucous membranes and for the process of vision.
Its lack may cause, among other things:
- growth inhibition,
- earthy yellow discoloration of the skin (especially of the face),
- disturbances in the regeneration of cell epithelia of the whole body, which are manifested, for example, by excessive dryness and keratinization of the skin, dry throat,
- chronic rhinitis with impaired smell,
- reduction in the production of stomach acid.
Its deficiency promotes the formation of kidney stones, reduces resistance to colds, causes burning under the eyelids, and impaired vision at dusk.
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In turn, an excess of vitamin A, mainly retinol and its derivatives, can be dangerous because it has a proven toxic effect. Too much vitamin A taken in the form of dietary supplements in the body causes, for example, irritability, headaches, muscle weakness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. In addition, it can lead to lowered bone mineral density and joint and bone pain, and even disturb the functioning of the heart's kidneys and the central nervous system.
Vitamin A - properties, plays a number of important functions in the human body.
1. Vision process - is part of rhodopsin in the photoreceptors of the eye.
2. Epithelial and bone tissue - is an important growth factor.
3. Hormones of the adrenal cortex and thyroid gland - takes part in their synthesis and release.
4. Nerve cell sheaths, mucous membranes and skin - maintains their proper condition through the synthesis of melanin and collagen.
5. It conditions the feeling of taste.
6. It conditions the proper structure of erythrocytes.
7. Has an antioxidant effect.
8. Has anti-inflammatory effect.
9. Protects against free radicals.
10. Takes part in sperm formation, placenta development, fetal growth.
11. Retinol protects against DNA damage and mutagenesis, especially in relation to colon, prostate, breast and lung cancers.
Vitamin A is found in both animal and plant products. Simply put, it can be said that vitamin A from plants is carotenoids, and from animals - retinoids (retinol and its derivatives). Both forms are not created equal, as carotenoids must be transformed to gain the biological activity of vitamin A. Additionally, not all carotenoids exhibit the biological activity of vitamin A.
The symptom of vitamin A deficiency, commonly known as "night blindness", is the most typical.
To find out if our body is deficient in vitamin A, we can perform a simple test: we go from a light to a dark room and count how long it takes for our eyesight to adjust to the dark. If not longer than 7 seconds, our body contains a sufficient amount of vitamin A, time 8-12 seconds already indicates its deficiency, although not harmful to health, more than 12 seconds is already dangerous avitaminosis, which must be eliminated immediately.
As vitamin A dissolves in fats, remember to sprinkle each salad with olive oil.
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