Understanding Vitamin A

Now let’s take a closer look of the advantages and disadvantages of taking these supplements:

Vitamin A

The control for vitamin A deficiency is one of the most cost effective child health and child survival strategies governments can pursue. In 1984 WHO gave all possible support to member states in the prevention and control of vitamin A deficiency and xerophthalmia. Vitamin A plays a central role in many essential biological processes. Vitamin A is required at different stages of vertebrae development. This requirement remains crucial even with adults.

Vitamin A known as retinol is a fat soluble substance that supports one’s eyesight and prevents night blindness. This is not advisable to be taken everyday because it can be stored in body fat and may become toxic. It needs body fat for its absorption. This substance is being stored in the body organs. A large part of it can be stored in the liver. This substance is released into the bloodstream as needed for use by cells throughout the body especially the eyes. Periodic high dose supplementation is needed to build up reserve at times of reduced dietary intake or increase need. But there is a great possibility that large quantities could get accumulated which may proved harmful or toxic to the body considering that this is not lost or being discharged from the body through the urine. Vitamin A toxicity is a real problem.

Understanding vitamins and supplements

Vitamins are essential for health and energy. It protects us from contracting diseases. But it doesn’t follow that more is better. Any excessive ingestion contributes to waste and create havoc to the body. Vitamins are to be taken within safe limits. This article does not push readers to buy more pills but instead encourage readers to eat a variety of healthy foods to attain good health even without these pills. Supplementary vitamins are more useful to people who are unable or unwilling to eat normal foods. First and foremost, the patient needs to know if their choice is appropriate to what their bodies need. Information on the recommended daily intake shall be made available and applied as instructed. Knowledge about these supplements shall not focus only on the benefits but users should know any side effects for over use or prolonged use as well if there are any.

Every person in this planet should know what each of these vitamins do to the body, how to obtain them, how much is desirable to one’s age and stage in life and how to preserve them when cooking and preparing food. One should also know the effects of deficiency and possible problems of excess intake. This has been clearly discussed during our elementary days. I know each one fully memorized the basic food groups and the types of vitamins and minerals we need during elementary days. I just wonder who among you are like me who just drop it after passing the subject and come back to a more dedicated research now. This is after I realized the importance of balance diet and exercise as a prerequisite to living a good life and impressive well being.

Normally the levels of recommended intake of vitamins set by different countries vary. This is because the figures were based on estimates of human requirements. So if you want to know your required doses it would be wise to seek professional advice before taking anything. There are a total of 13 vitamins that your body needs. They are vitamins A, C, D, E, K and B the vitamins group. The B vitamins group is composed of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folate.