Why Do People Take Vitamin A?
There are two types of vitamin A. The American Heart Association recommends obtaining antioxidants, including beta-carotene, by eating a well-balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains rather than from supplements until more is known about the risks and benefits of supplementation. High doses of antioxidants (including vitamin A) may actually do more harm than good.
Vitamin A supplementation alone, or in combination with other antioxidants, is associated with an increased risk of mortality from all causes, according to an analysis of multiple studie.
1. Vitamin A
This vitamin is also a component of rhodopsin, a protein in your eyes that allows you to see in low light conditions Vitamin A deficiency is rare in developed countries, but if unaddressed can lead to a serious condition called xerophthalmia.
Xerophthalmia is a progressive eye disease which begins with night blindness. If vitamin A deficiency continues, your tear ducts and eyes can dry out. Eventually, your cornea softens, resulting in irreversible blindness ( 1 , 2).
For general eye health, vitamin-A-rich foods are recommended over supplements. Summary Severe vitamin A deficiency can lead to xerophthalmia, a serious condition that can result in blindness. In some studies, high amounts of vitamin A intake were associated with a reduced risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
What Is Vitamin A?
Vitamin A actually is a group of antioxidant compounds that play an important role in vision, bone growth and health of the immune system. Vitamin A also helps the surface of the eye, mucous membranes and skin be effective barriers to bacteria and viruses, reducing the risk of eye infections, respiratory problems and other infectious diseases. In general, there are two types of vitamin A, depending on the type of food source it comes from:
Sweet potatoes and carrots are excellent sources of provitamin A carotenoids that are good for your eyes.
Vitamin A from animal-derived foods is called retinol. Good food sources of retinol vitamin A include beef and chicken liver, whole milk and cheese. Good food sources of provitamin A carotenoids include carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale and cantaloupes.