Vitamin A

Both the alphabet and good nutrition begin with A. Vitamin A is one of the building blocks of a healthy body and strong immune system.
Vitamin A is sometimes referred to as retinyl acetate or palmitate. It is crucial for forming and maintaining healthy teeth and skin. In addition, it plays an important role in maintaining mucous membranes, skeletal tissue and soft tissue.

Signs of a Vitamin A Deficiency

A deficiency in vitamin A is caused by dietary issues. One of the first symptoms of a vitamin A deficiency is a spell of night blindness. A deficiency in vitamin A can also lead to overall impaired vision, liver disorders and rashes.

A long-term deficiency can interfere with nutrient absorption that may be connected to celiac disease, chronic diarrhea, giardiasis and cirrhosis.

Vitamin A Excess

An excess of vitamin A is also caused by diet. Taking in too much vitamin A can create some negative health consequences.
Having too much of this vitamin in your blood could result in bone loss, thinning hair, dry skin, severe headaches and weakness. Stomach pain, nausea and vomiting are some of the immediate results of taking too much vitamin A.



The recommended daily intake of vitamin A varies greatly by age.

  • Infants under six months should take in 1334 IU micrograms of vitamin A per day.
  • Babies between seven months and one year should take in 1667 IU per day.
  • Children between one and three years old should take in 1000 IU per day.
  • Children between four and eight years old should take in 1334 IU per day.
  • Children between nine and 13 years old should take in 2000 IU per day.
  • Adolescents and adults above the age of 14 should take in between 2333 and 3000 micrograms per day.

The benefits of Vitamin A for humans were recognized in 1912 when an English biochemist discovered that there were factors present in milk that aided with the growth of rats in experiments.