WHAT IS
Vitamin A Retinol?
Vitamin A exists in two different forms: preformed vitamin A, exclusively occurring in animal products, and provitamin A carotenoids (e.g. beta-carotene) found in vegetal products. In the body, both forms of vitamin A are converted to retinal and retinoic acid, the active forms of vitamin A.
Vitamin A plays an essential role in vision (particularly in night vision), skin and mucous membrane health, cell growth, fetal development, and immune function. Beta-carotene also has antioxidant properties, which means it protects cells from oxidative damage. Retinol is also commonly used to exfoliate skin, increase skin cell turnover, and stimulate collagen synthesis. It is considered the gold standard for its anti-aging and skin clearing properties.
You can easily meet your requirements for vitamin A by regularly eating liver, kidney, eggs, dairy products, salmon, butter, caviar, cheese, sweet potato, carrot, sweet red pepper and spinach. Since vitamin A is fat-soluble, it is more efficiently absorbed into the bloodstream when eaten with fat. Thankfully, most animal-sourced foods that are rich in vitamin A are also high in fat. After consumption, most of the vitamin A is stored in our liver for future use.
A lack of vitamin A retinol can throw the body off balance and have some significant side effects. Vitamin A insufficiency can potentially cause a disease called xerophthalmia, where the eyes become very dry and crusty. If left untreated, this disease can damage the cornea and retina and, in the most severe cases, it may even cause blindness. Low vitamin A levels have also been associated with infection, bitot spots, skin irritation, stunted growth, poor wound healing and muscle soreness. However, as the Greeks commonly say: “pan metron ariston” (all in good measure) because an excessive intake of some forms of vitamin A retinol can also be harmful. Getting too much vitamin A (usually from supplements or certain medicines) has been linked to dizziness, nausea and headaches.
An athlete needs more vitamin A than a sedentary person. Vitamin A can assist with muscle tissue synthesis and repair during recovery from exercise and injury. Additionally, it can help maintain bone health, immune function, and protect the body against oxidative damage.
In conclusion, our vitamin A levels impact many aspects of our physical health. In order to make sure that your vitamin A levels are balanced and steady, make sure to test your levels and to evaluate how you can make the right changes to rebalance your body and mind.
Biomarkers