What does Vitamin A do?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin with four major functions in the body: (1) It helps
cells reproduce normally—a process called differentiation (cells that have not properly
differentiated are more likely to undergo pre-cancerous changes). (2) It is required for
vision; vitamin A maintains healthy cells in various structures of the eye and is required for
the transduction of light into nerve signals in the retina. (3) It is required for normal
growth and development of the embryo and fetus, influencing genes that determine the
sequential development of organs in embryonic development. (4) It may be required for normal
reproductive function, with influences on the function and development of sperm, ovaries and
placenta.
For some people, water-soluble forms of vitamin A supplements appear to be better absorbed
than fat-soluble vitamin A.
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