Vitamin A (Beta Carotene)

Also known as: Carotene, Retinol:

Vitamin A is comprised of retinol (which is an alcohol) and retinal (which is an aldehyde), the compound of provitamin A.

Retinal is converted into retinoic acid, the portion of Vitamin A responsible for gene transcription.

Retinol, retinal, retinoic acid a well as other related compounds are known as retinoids.

Hundreds of various carotenoids are synthesized by plants, but only approximately 10 percent of them are Vitamin A carotenoids.

Home Remedies using Vitamin A:

Benefits and Uses of Vitamin A:

The many health and wellness benefits of Vitamin A include:

• Prevention of night blindness
• Plays an important role in vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell division and cell differentiation
• Helps regulate the immune system, which help prevent infections by making white blood cells that destroy bacteria and viruses
• Helps lymphocytes (type of white blood cell) fight infections
• Promotes healthy surface linings of the eyes, lungs, urinary and intestinal tracts
• Helps the skin and mucous membranes function as a barrier to harmful bacteria and viruses
• Protein utilization

Vitamin A can be used for the following purposes:

• Immune system enhancement
• Helps heal gastrointestinal ulcers
• Protects against pollution and cancer formation
• Important for the formation of bones and teeth
• Aids in fat storage
• Anti-oxidant which fights aging and cancer growth

Vitamin A comes in the following over the counter forms:

• Tablet
• Capsule
• Liquid

The largest amounts of Vitamin A can be found in:

• Alfalfa
• Apricots
• Asparagus
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Cantaloupe
• Carrots
• Swiss chard
• Dandelion greens
• Fish liver oil
• Liver
• Garlic
• Kale
• Mustard
• Peaches
• Sweet potatoes
• Pumpkin
• Yellow squash
• Turnip greens

Side Effects of Vitamin A:

High storage levels of Vitamin A can lead to toxic symptoms, the most common of which are birth defects, liver abnormalities, and reduced bone mineral density that can lead to osteoporosis over time as well as central nervous system disorders.

Although this may come from eating too much liver, most cases are from taking an excessive amount of supplemental Vitamin A.