Vitamin A. Properties

Vitamin A or retinol, as it is also known, is one of the vitamins recognized as essential. This is because the contributions that it confers to our organism are essential for the normal performance of our body's biological functions. The importance of vitamin A is really high, its benefits extend to a series of elements without which we would have to face severe complications for our health. Learning about this type of nutrient helps us to appreciate the way we eat and the lifestyle we sustain.

During the development of this guide, we will be delving into some of the basic functions of vitamin A and the properties it provides for our health. Likewise, we will review the main sources of its acquisition and some of the harmful effects that hypersupplementation of this nutrient has on our organism.

General benefits of vitamin A

Vitamin A offers numerous benefits for our health, among which those related to vision stand out, which is why its supplementation is usually indicated for those who have vision problems. Other benefits of vitamin A are related to its high antioxidant power, which helps us to prevent damage caused by free radicals. This nutrient works in cell growth and division, while contributing to the strengthening of our immune system.

As we can see, vitamin A has properties that make it very useful in the general spectrum of our health. Maintaining adequate levels of this nutrient can help us sustain a better quality of life over time.

How to acquire vitamin A?

Among the foods that stand out for their high vitamin A content are carrots, spinach, some dairy products, liver, among others. Try to ensure that your meal plans include some of these foods in abundance to meet the requirements of this nutrient in your body. In case you are unable to schedule a meal plan that contains sufficient amounts of this nutrient, you can try making use of vitamin A supplements. Oral supplements of this vitamin have shown great efficacy in combating various pancreatic diseases and eye conditions. They are also indicated to mitigate the effects of other diseases such as measles.

Regarding vitamin A supplements, we must point out that they have not shown many effects in reference to the antioxidant properties of this vitamin. That said, whenever you have a choice between acquiring vitamin A through food or supplements, the food source is always better.

Effects of hypersupplementation

Vitamin A, as with other vitamins, can cause unwanted effects from over-supplementation. Try to avoid overuse of this nutrient and limit yourself to meeting your body's daily requirements. Between 900 micrograms (mcg) for adult men and 700 micrograms (mcg) for adult women will be sufficient to meet your body's demands.

Among the effects caused by hypersupplementation we have the appearance of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, general discomfort, among others. In cases where hypersupplementation has been excessively high, more severe ailments such as liver damage, joint and bone pain, skin problems and irritations, among others, have been evidenced.

In case of suffering some of the above mentioned effects while you are under this type of supplementation, it is advisable to consult your doctor to evaluate the doses you consume daily and adjust them to adequate values for your personal requirements.