Additional Information

Vitamin A is responsible for performing, or involved in, several bodily functions including vision, embryonic development, support of various tissues, and immune activation and support. Vitamin A precursors, including beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin, which are converted into the active form Retinol, must be acquired through dietary intake and can be found in several vegetables, dairy products, and fish.

Bodily Functions Performed by Vitamin A

Vitamin A is responsible for, or involved in, forming and maintaining healthy teeth and gums, facilitates the secretion of the appropriate levels of mucus to protect the various membranes throughout the body, and promotes healthy tissue and skin. In addition, vitamin A also assists with maintaining vision, reproduction, and breast feeding. Vitamin A produces a pigment in the retina, hence, it is also known as Retinol.

Symptoms Of Deficiency:

• Inflammation of the eyes, poor vision, and night blindness
• Increased probability of infections, especially frequent and prolonged common colds
• Decrease in appetite and energy
• Degenerative teeth and gums
• Skin disorders, acne, boils, and premature wrinkles
• Decrease in the mucous membranes of the nose, throat and mouth, the bronchial tubes, lungs, intestinal tract, kidneys, and vagina to secrete the normal quantities of mucus needed to protect them from irritation
• Decreased growth in children
• Dry and dull hair, dandruff, excessive hair loss, and ridged nails
• Diminished sense of taste and smell

Foods High In Vitamin A

Legumes, dairy products, liver, eggs, margarine, fish, carrots, leafy greens, cantaloupe, broccoli, squash, sweet potatoes, and peas.

Ailments That Vitamin A Eliminates:

• Treat and reduce symptoms of acne
• Prevent and treat cancer
• Treat Crohn's disease
• Improve tissue strength
• Treat and prevent eye disorders
• Treat and reduce gastrointestinal disorders
• Stimulate and strengthen the immune system
• Treat infections
• Treat kidney stones
• Prevent menorrhagia (Excessive bleeding during menstruation)

Side Effects/Pre-Cautions

Nausea, upset stomach, and/or vomiting, headaches, Stomatitis (swelling of the mucous membranes of the mouth), fuzzy and blurred vision, lack of muscular coordination, elevated liver functionality

Chronic toxicity or hypervitaminosis A: Vitamin A toxicity is typically associated with dosages that exceed 30,000 IU’s (International Units). Symptoms associated with Vitamin A toxicity include blurred and/or double vision, headaches, insomnia, microcytic anemia, neutropenia (low white blood cell counts), blood clotting issues, liver damage, bone and skin changes.