Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes from animal and plant sources such as cream, dark leafy vegetables, liver, carrots, cheese and fish oil, according to MedlinePlus. Vitamin A comes from two sources, a group of molecules called carotenoids and another group called retinoids, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Vitamin A offers many benefits for your body by promoting overall health and preventing illness.
Skin Disorders
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, oral and topical forms of retinoids can help to prevent formation of acne. On the Vitamins & Nutrition Center website, Dr. George Obikoya says that carotenoids keep the protective tissue of the skin strong and prevent acne by reducing the production of sebum. Vitamin A can also help to treat other skin conditions such as premature aging as a result of the sun and rosacea.
Eye Health
MedlinePlus says that vitamin A helps to promote good vision by producing pigments in the retina of the eye. Vitamin A supplements also help to improve a condition called xerophthalmia, which causes dry eyes, and also helps to treat a hereditary disease called retinitis pigmentosa that leads to poor vision at night. The University of Maryland Medical Center website reports those that have a higher concentration of vitamin A in their diet are less likely top develop age-related macular degeneration.
Diseases
Low amounts of vitamin A in the body can result in osteoporosis. Children who are deficient in this vitamin are more likely to suffer from measles. Also, if you do not consume enough vitamin A, you can contract inflammatory bowel disease. Vitamin A has been proposed to help treat cancer, but there is currently not enough proof to suggest that vitamin A supplements can help reduce or prevent cancer stages, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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