Dri is a term for a set of reference intakes that are used to plan and assess the nutrient intakes of healthy people. Dietary reference intakes for vitamin A:
Infants (AI)
0 to 6 months: 400 micrograms per day (mcg/day)
7 to 12 months: 500 mcg/day
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamins is how much of each vitamin most people should get each day.
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Dations for vitamin A, as well as other nutrients, are provided in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) developed by the Food and Nutrition Board at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Dri is a term for a set of reference intakes that are used to plan and assess the nutrient intakes of healthy people. These values, which vary by age and sex, include:
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): The average daily level of intake that is enough to meet the nutrient needs of nearly all (97% to 98%) healthy people.
An RDA is an intake level based on scientific research evidence. Children (RDA)
1 to 3 years: 300 mcg/day
4 to 8 years: 400 mcg/day
9 to 13 years: 600 mcg/day
Adolescents and adults (RDA)
Males age 14 and older: 900 mcg/day
Females age 14 and older: 700 mcg/day (for females aged 19 to 50, 770 mcg/day during pregnancy and 1,300 mcg/day during breastfeeding)
The best way to get the daily requirement of important vitamins is to eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, fortified dairy foods, legumes (dried beans), lentils, and whole grain.
What Is Vitamin A?
Vitamin A is the generic name used for a group of fat-soluble compounds that include two main forms: carotenoids, found in plant and plant-based foods; and pre-formed vitamin A (or retinol), mainly found in animal products.
Carotenoids are pigments responsible for plant’s red, yellow and orange colours, which our bodies can absorb and convert to vitamin A. One of the most well-known and abundant carotenoids in nature is beta-carotene. There are also other types of carotenoids in foods, such as lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin, which are not converted to vitamin A in our bodies but have other health benefits.
Our bodies absorb vitamin A from animal products better than vitamin A from plant-based foods.
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Some of the most important functions of Vitamin A are described below. A deficiency in vitamin A can lead to visual disturbances.
In the eyes, a form of vitamin A called retinal is combined with a protein called opsin to give rhodopsin, an essential light absorbing molecule needed for color vision and seeing in dim light. Immune system
Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy immune function and deficiency can lead to an impaired response to infection. Cell growth
One form of Vitamin A, retinoic acid is, a key hormone-like growth factor for epithelial cells and other cell types in the body.
Gene transcription and protein formation
Vitamin A in the form of retinoic acid is essential for gene transcription. The exact mechanism behind this is currently being researched to help develop treatments for dermatolgical diseases. Currently, the retinoic drug isotretinoin is the most commonly prescribed agent in the treatment of acne.
The agent also reduces the amount of bacteria present in the ducts and surface of the skin, which occurs as a result of reduced sebum, which bacteria rely on as a source of nutrients.