Vitamin A was the first vitamin to be discovered. This fat-soluble vitaminis found in butter, cream, egg yolk, fish oils, and whole and fortified nonfat milk. Orange fruits and green, leafy vegetables are great sources of this vitamin as well.
Vitamin A helps with the proper function of the cornea, lungs, mucus membranes, lining of the gastrointestinal walls, bladder, and urinary tract. It also acts as an antioxidant to help prevent infectious disease and the formation of various tumor compounds in the body. The deficiency of Vitamin A may cause night blindness, suboptimum bone and tooth formation, eye inflammation, impaired response, weight loss, and keratinosis. It is found in fish liver oils, liver dairy products carrots, cantaloupe, peaches, squash, tomatoes, all green and yellow fruits, and vegetables.
Vitamin A is most effective when taken with B-Complex, choline, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, calcium, and zinc. It promotes growth and repairs of body tissues, bone formation and healthy skin and hair. It is essential for night vision.
Diseases prevented by the therapeutic benefits of Vitamin A include: acne, alcoholism, anorexia, birth defects, cancer, Crohn's disease, fibrosis, ear infections, eczema, immune dysfunction (infectious disease), infant mortality, kidney stones, measles, peptic ulcers, stroke, vision problems, wound healing, and ulcerative colitis. (Information received from the Herbal Information Center & Vitamin Directory).
