Vitamin A

What is Vitamin A?

Ah, the old 'carrots help you see in the dark' line - we've all heard it thousands of times, but is there anything in it? Well, yes! Carrots contain beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A.

What does Vitamin A do?

Vitamin A contributes to the maintenance of normal vision. Vitamin A plays a variety of roles, including helping to convert the light that hits your eye into an electrical signal that goes to your brain. It is a component of 'rhodopsin', a pigment in your retina that is very sensitive to light and allows your eyes to adapt to the dark. This is why vitamin A has long been linked with seeing in dim light.

Vitamin A doesn't just play a role in vision. It contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and normal mucous membranes, and researchers have reviewed its role in skin and hair. They have also looked at vitamin A's role in the skin's own immune defences and the skin microbiome, and studied oral vitamin A in relation to the skin.

Vitamin A also contributes to the normal function of the immune system. It plays a role in forming the mucus barriers that trap bacteria, and in the production of white blood cells. Vitamin A status has also been studied in relation to respiratory and digestive health.

As you can see, carrots (and other vegetable sources of vitamin A) do so much more than just help you see in the dark. In fact, the old line used by your parents to try and persuade you to eat carrots probably undersells the importance of this crucial vitamin.

Form: Retinol and retinyl acetate.

Learn more about the '7 key nutrients to support your eye health' and 'Tips for better eye health'. You may also enjoy reading 'Best foods for acne' and 'Natural ways to decrease signs of Eczema'.