OVERVIEW OF VITAMIN A | ||
| Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology | ||
| Article 5, Volume 51, Issue 1, April 2021, Pages 29-42 PDF (1.04 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jesp.2021.165935 | ||
| Authors | ||
| AHMED IBRAHIM ALSAYED ALASHRY1; Tosson Morsy2 | ||
| 1Consultant Ophthalmology, Military Medical Academy, Cairo, 11291, Egypt | ||
| 2Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is important for many bodily functions, including proper vision, a strong immune system, reproduction and good skin health. There are two types of vitamin A found in foods: preformed vitamin A and provitamin A. It is also known as retinol and commonly found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. Besides, body converts carotenoids in plant foods, such as red, green, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, into vitamin A. But, many people in developing countries do not get enough Vitamin A. The highest risk of vitamin A deficiency is in pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, infants and children. Signs and symptoms of vitamin A deficiency could be dry skin, dry eyes, night blindness, male and female infertility and trouble conceiving, delayed growth, throat and chest infections, poor wound healing, acne and breakouts, cystic fibrosis and chronic diarrhea. However, hypervitaminosis A, excess vitamin A, or vitamin A toxicity causes serious vision changes, mouth ulcers, confusion and birth defects. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Vitamin A; Sources; Deficiency; Blindness; Growth; Toxicity; Overview | ||
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