Class about vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient that plays an important role in vision, immune health, and the maintenance of skin and mucous membranes.

There are two main ways people get vitamin A:

  • Preformed vitamin A (retinol), found in animal foods such as liver, eggs, and dairy

  • Beta-carotene, found in colorful fruits and vegetables like carrots, spinach, and broccoli

Beta-carotene is not vitamin A. It must first be absorbed and then converted by the body into usable vitamin A. Not everyone converts beta-carotene well. Genetics, digestion, thyroid function, and overall health all affect this process.

Vitamin A is important for:

  • Night vision and eye health

  • Healthy skin and mucous membranes

  • Normal immune function

  • Growth and tissue repair

One of the earliest signs of vitamin A deficiency is poor night vision. Other signs may include dry eyes, dry or rough skin, frequent infections, and reduced resistance to illness.

Most of the body’s vitamin A is stored in the liver, with smaller amounts stored in fat tissue and certain organs. The mineral zinc is needed to release vitamin A from storage, which helps explain why zinc deficiency can cause symptoms similar to vitamin A deficiency.

Vitamin A is essential, but too much can be harmful. Excess intake of preformed vitamin A over time may cause symptoms such as nausea, headaches, dry skin, hair loss, bone pain, and liver stress. For this reason, vitamin A intake should be balanced and approached with care.

Beta-carotene from foods does not cause vitamin A toxicity, but very high intake can cause the skin to appear yellow-orange, especially on the palms and soles. This condition is harmless and resolves when intake is reduced.

Vitamin A supports many body systems, but it should be viewed as one part of overall nutrition, working together with adequate protein, fats, minerals, and metabolic health.

Note on References:

Many of the studies listed below are older or exploratory and reflect early research on vitamin A, beta-carotene, and related health outcomes. These references are included for historical and educational context. Findings should not be interpreted as treatment recommendations or dosing guidance, and more recent research has refined how vitamin A is understood and used.

J Invest Dermatol 86:390-93, 1986 Following treatment with isotretinin, the inflammatory papules, pustules and nodules were curtailed, while the vasomotor lability and telangiectasia were unchanged.—Also in acne roseacia, r/o hypochlorhydra, malabsorption of vitamin B, Rx w/ HCl and B complex. Vitamin A has a reputation of being good for acne, since serum concentrations of retinol are decreased in patients. Supplementing with vitamin A is not very effective, except in near-toxic doses. Topically, it does seem to help.

Vitamin A supplementation does seem to help with eczema. Ann Allergy 10:703-4, 1952 Ten children with chronic eczema were given Vitamin A palmitate 25,000-200,000 IU daily for 3-21 months. 3 showed some improvement and 6 showed marked improvement. There was no evidence of toxicity. Worth noting, serum copper may be elevated in patients with eczema, so a combination of zinc and vitamin A may be worth taking.

Vitamin A deficiency is associated with anemia due to impaired hemoglobin synthesis, which is reversible with supplementation.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 46:531, 1987. In a group of 148 Iranians, Low plasma vitamin A levels were correlated with reduced hemoglobin values.

Nutr Res 10:267-73, 1990. Eight middle aged males gradually developed anemia several months after being placed on a vitamin A deficient diet. The decline in serum hemoglobin began well before the loss of night vision or the attainment of “deficient” serum vitamin A values. Supplementation with carotene or vitamin A led to normal values.

Med World News– Male physicians with a history of angina received beta carotene (50 mg/day) After several years of follow-up, compared to placebo controls, that group had a 54% reduction in major coronary events and a 54% reduction in major vascular events.

American Journal of Epidemiology, 1991; 133: 766-75. “Plasma Antioxidant Vitamins and Subsequent Cancer Mortality in 12-Year Follow-up of the Prospective Basal Study” Plasma levels of antioxidants (A<C<E and carotene) were measured in 2974 men over a 2 year period. Of this group, 204 men died of cancer. Overall mortality was associated with low levels of carotene and vitamin C.—lots of studies to this effect.

Cancer Letters, 1991; 59:25-29 “Anti-Tumor Effects of Vitamin A Against Shope Carcinoma Cells”  Vitamin A (Retinol) caused morphologic changes and growth retardation in Shope carcinoma (cultured). Authors conclude that vitamin A may be effective against differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, but not against undifferentiated tumors.

Worth noting: Vitamin A has been used to reduce tumors and to prevent return of cancer.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 1991; 53:90-4 “Effect of B-Carotene on Lymphocyte Subpopulations in The Elderly Humans: Evidence For a Dose-Response Relationship”     Dosage of 30 mg/day (mean age of subject–56) for two months led to an increase in the percentage of lymphoid cells with surface markers for T-helper, natural killer cells and cells with interleukin II. B-carotene levels elevated significantly while retinol did not. . Very high B-carotene doses (180 mg/day) for two weeks increased total numbers to T-helper cells without affecting suppresser cells. B-carotene causes in vitro cytokine secretion. In the elderly subjects the singular elevation of T-helper cells without affecting suppresser cells is significant.

Am J Clin Nutr40:1090-95, 1984 Vitamin A deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to infection.

Nutrition and Cancer, “Exposure to Benzopyrene Depletes Tissue Vitamin A: B-Carotene Prevents Depletion”,1991; 208-210. Rats fed benzopyrene had tissue retinol in the liver and small intestine to reduce by 30%. Rats supplemented with B-carotene had no such depletion. Intake of B-carotene may have a positive impact on environmental carcinogens.

Nutrition Research, 1991; 11:549-558 “Effect of Vitamin A Prophylaxis on Morbidity and Mortality Among Children in Urban Slums in Bombay” Vitamin A give at an initial dose of 200,000 IU lowered the mortality rate and helped reduce the incidence of infections, diarrhea, measles, respiratory infections and parasite infections. Nutritional supplementation of vitamin A may reduce the fatality of measles.

Aust Paediatr J 22(2):95-99, 1986   147 preschool children with a history of frequent respiratory illness received 1500 IU vitamin A, or a placebo. After 11 mo., the supplemented children experienced 19% fewer episodes of respiratory symptomatology compared to controls, even though their plasma retinol levels did not change. Children with prior histories of lower respiratory illness or of allergy benefited most.

Arch Otorhinolaryngol 124:379-82, 1978     The cochlea has a high concentration of vitamin A and all special sensory receptor cells contain, or are functionally dependent upon vitamin A. Deficiency may be associated with inner ear dysfunction.

Arch Otorhinolaryngol 234:167-73   Young rats on vitamin A deficient diet had changes in the cuticle of the outer and inner hair cells of the cochlea.

Arch Otolaryngol May, 1951, pp515-26    249/300 patients (83%) with hearing loss had an average gain of hearing in the left ear of 18.9% and the right ear of 17.3% with very definite gains in hearing of conversational tones following a series of twice weekly IV injections of 2 cc of vitamin A.

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 39:586-92, 1960 (PMS)    Patients given 2-300,000 IU/day, premenstrually or a placebo. All experimental subjects benefited, compared to only 25% of those on placebo.

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 39:586-92  (PMS) 218 patients given2-300,000 IU/day. 48% had complete symptom relief, 41.2% had a partial effect and 10.8% failed to improve. Results were best for premenstrual headache and worst for PMT-A.