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Vitamin A - The Night Sight Vitamin
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In 300 B.C. the Hippocratic School of Medicine recommended liver (rich in Vitamin A) for children with
night blindness or infections. Vitamin A has the distinction of being the first fat-soluble vitamin to be
recognized and after a century of research, Vitamin A is still very much a focus of much research.
Vitamin A is a versatile vitamin, with roles in vision, immune defenses, maintenance of body linings and skin,
bone and body growth, normal cell development, and reproduction. In short, Vitamin A is needed everywhere!
Your Vitamin A Intake
Your Top Vitamin A Sources
Below are the major contributors of Vitamin A to your diet. This list is based upon the foods you eat the most, not the amount of Vitamin A per serving (which is shown for reference purposes only).
Functions of Vitamin A
Vision: Needed by the retina of the eye for normal vision and for night vision.
Skin: Keeps skin soft. A deficiency leads to dry, rough, and scaly skin.
Mucous Membranes: Maintains the integrity of the mucous membrane, a barrier that lines the digestive tract, lungs, sinuses and eyes and defends against infection.
Infection: Vitamin A helps boost your immune response by playing a key role in the creation of white blood cells.
Antioxidant: Neutralizes free radicals to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
Sources of Vitamin A
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| Beef Liver |
3 oz |
1010% |
| Sweet Potato |
1/2 Cup |
108% |
| Carrots |
1/2 Cup |
106% |
| Spinach |
1/2 Cup |
41% |
| Mango |
1/2 Cup |
28% |
| Apricots |
3 apricots |
15% |
| Milk |
8 fl oz |
17% |
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