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Writer's pictureJose Montanez
Mar 22, 20225 min read

How to Improve your Health with Powerful Vitamin A


Photo by Engin Akyurt


How often are you getting As? Vitamin A that is.

Vitamin A is a group of fat-soluble compounds important for human health. Vitamin A is essential for:

  • Healthy vision

  • Lowering the risk of certain cancers

  • Healthy immune system

  • Reducing the risk of acne

  • Bone health

  • Growth and reproduction

  • Testosterone and prostate health

Vitamin A preserves your eyesight. Studies suggest adequate amounts of vitamin A prevents the development of night blindness. It also helps slow the age-related decline of your eyesight.

Vitamin A may lower the risk of certain cancers. Cancer occurs when abnormal cells begin to grow or divide in an uncontrolled way. Vitamin A plays an important role in the growth and development of your cells. Consuming an adequate amount of vitamin A reduces the risk of certain cancers. This includes Hodgkin's lymphoma, cervical, lung, and bladder cancer.


Vitamin A supports a healthy immune system. It maintains the mucus barriers in your eyes, lungs, gut, and genitals. These barriers trap bacteria and other infectious agents. Vitamin A also supports the production and function of white blood cells. These capture and clear bacteria and other pathogens from the bloodstream.

Vitamin A reduces the risk of some skin conditions. Doctors prescribe topical and oral retinoids to treat acne and wrinkles. Though, the role of vitamin A is still unclear for skin conditions.

Vitamin A supports bone health. Vitamin A is necessary for proper bone growth and development. Studies suggests that people with low levels of vitamin A are at a higher risk of fractures.

Vitamin A promotes healthy growth and reproduction. Studies suggests that males and females with low levels of vitamin A:

  • Lack sperm cell development, causing infertility in men

  • Reduce egg quality and egg implantation in the womb of a woman

Vitamin A plays a role in the growth and development of an unborn child. Organs and structures, such as the skeleton, nervous system, heart, kidneys, and more. Furthermore, vitamin A supplementation, along with iron, proved as efficient as hormonal therapy on boys with delayed puberty.


Vitamin A regulates androgen activity. This is likely because of enzyme Bco1. The latter converts dietary carotenoids into vitamin A in the body. Bco1 also regulates testosterone levels and growth of the prostate. Thus, consuming an adequate amount of vitamin A encourages our body to produce more Bco1. In turn, you support testosterone levels and prostate health.

 

Here are some animal sources high in vitamin A:

  • Beef liver

  • Lamb liver

  • Cod liver oil

  • Salmon

  • Eggs

Here are some plant sources high in vitamin A:

  • Sweet potatoes

  • Winter squash

  • Kale

  • Carrots

  • Sweet red peppers

Here are the recommended dietary allowance. This includes the amount of vitamin A you get from foods and supplements.



 

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References:

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