Though vitamin A is often considered a singular nutrient, it’s really the name for a group of fat-soluble compounds.

Generally there are two forms of vitamin A found in food.

Preformed vitamin A — retinol and retinyl esters — occurs exclusively in animal products, such as dairy, liver and fish, while provitamin A carotenoids are abundant in plant foods like fruits, vegetables and oils.

To use them, your body must convert both forms of vitamin A to retinal and retinoic acid, the active forms of the vitamin.

Because vitamin A is fat soluble, it’s stored in body tissue for later use. Similarly Most of the vitamin A in your body is kept in your liver in the form of retinyl esters .

Vitamin A is essential for your health.

Perhaps one of the best-known functions of vitamin A is its role in vision and eye health.

Additionally, vitamin A helps maintain surface tissues.

Vitamin A is an important nutrient that benefits health in many ways.

Vitamin A Pills Are Potent Antioxidants

Provitamin A carotenoids such as beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin are precursors of vitamin A and have antioxidant properties.

Essential for Eye Health and Prevents Macular Degeneration

As mentioned above, vitamin A is essential to vision and eye health.

Adequate dietary intake of vitamin A helps protect against certain eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Studies show that higher blood levels of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin may reduce your risk of AMD by up to 25% .

This risk reduction is linked to carotenoid nutrients’ protection of macular tissue.

May Protect Against Certain Cancers

Due to their antioxidant properties, carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables may protect against certain types of cancer.

For example, a study in over 10,000 adults determined that smokers with the highest blood levels of alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin had a 46% and 61% lower risk of dying from lung cancer .

What’s more, test-tube studies demonstrate that retinoids may inhibit the growth of certain cancer cells.

Vitamin A Pills Vital for Fertility and Fetal Development

Vitamin A is essential for both male and female reproduction because it plays a role in sperm and egg development.

It’s also critical for placental health.

Therefore, vitamin A is integral to maternal and fetal health and to those trying to conceive.

Vitamin A Pills Boosts Your Immune System

Vitamin A impacts immune health.

Though vitamin A deficiency is rare in developed countries .

There are many dietary sources of both preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids. Foods highest in preformed vitamin A are:

• Egg yolks
• Beef liver
• Liverwurst
• Butter
• Cod liver oil
• Chicken liver
• Salmon
• Cheddar cheese
• Liver sausage
• King mackerel
• Trout

Foods high in provitamin A carotenoids like beta-carotene include :

• Sweet potatoes
• Pumpkin
• Carrots
• Kale
• Spinach
• Dandelion greens
• Cabbage
• Swiss chard
• Red peppers
• Collard greens
• Parsely
• Butternut squash

The most common side effects of chronic vitamin A toxicity include:

• Vision disturbances
• Joint and bone pain
• Poor appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sunlight sensitivity
• Hair loss
• Headache
• Dry skin
• Liver damage
• Jaundice
• Delayed growth
• Decreased appetite
• Confusion
• Itchy skin

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient.

Both deficiency and surplus intake may cause severe side effects

A healthy, well-balanced diet is a great way to provide your body with a safe amount of this essential nutrient.