What is Vitamin A?
Vitamin A
Vitamins are an essential component of the human body. Different types of vitamins play different roles in the maintenance and functioning of the human body.
What is Vitamin A?
Vitamin A is a vitamin (fat-soluble) which is present in the human liver. Vitamin A comes from different external sources.
Types of Vitamin A:
There are two vital types of vitamin A:
- Preformed vitamin A:
This type of vitamin A is present in dairy foods, poultry, meat, fish, and other animal products.
- Provitamin A:
Provitamin is present in plant-based food as vegetables and fruits. Beta-carotene is the most common type of vitamin A.
Forms of Vitamin A:
- Carotenoids:
Carotenoids are the colored pigments (dark in color). Carotenoid pigments can turn vitamin A into its active form. Carotenoids are present in plant-based foods.
Currently, there are over 500 types of carotenoids. The most common type of carotenoid is beta-carotenoid. Beta-carotene is a potent antioxidant which helps in preventing the cells from damage.
- Retinol:
The active form of vitamin A is retinol. The most abundant sources of retinol (vitamin A) are some of the fortified foods, whole milk, and liver of animals.
Sources of Vitamin A:
The dairy products, fortified foods, cereals, and juices are the most abundant sources of vitamin A. Most of the fruits are rich in zeaxanthin, lycopene, beta-carotene, and lutein.
Other most common sources of vitamin A are:
- Fish and fish oils
- Liver
- Tomatoes and bell pepper
- Eggs
- Mangoes
- Milk and fortified food products