Although Vitamin A is available from food sources such as spinach, carrots, and papayas, many individuals are far below the RDA for this essential nutrient. Infants and children can require between 2,000 and 3,000 IUs, while adults ingest around 5,000 IUs daily. This can make supplementing with Vitamin A quite necessary, as deficiencies may lead to skin problems and a lowered immune response.
Vitamin A is one of the essentials, as it requires outside sources to encourage full production and absorption through the small intestine. This vitamin is highly necessary for good eyesight, as it is responsible for the creation of rhodopsin, which allows for proper night vision. While this is often a reason for supplementing with Vitamin A, another important use is to aid healing and immune function.
All cells respond to Vitamin A with proper growth and regeneration. This can be most visible when healing from trauma, and can also be integral to skin health. Internally, this vitamin also ensures that organ tissues are able to stay protected, with the mucosal tissues being most affected. This protective aspect is also due to the fact that Vitamin A is an antioxidant, and helps to protect the cells from free radicals. This, combined with the attributes of promoting healthy cell growth, can keep all internal functions stay efficient. Between the effects on skin cells and internal tissues, Vitamin A is integral to maintaining youth and vitality.
