Vitamin A Functions
*Night and color vision
*Growth and cell differentiation (epithelial, nervous, bone and others)
*Reproduction
*Immune system function
Vitamin A Deficiency
*blindness
*impaired immunity
Vitamin A toxicity (over intake)
*Acute: 12 g of vitamin A can be fatal
*Bone/muscle pain, loss of appetite, stunted growth, skin disorders,headache, dry skin, hair loss, increased liver size, vomiting
*Possible permanent damage to liver
*Potent teratogen: spontaneous abortion, birth defects
Sources of Vitamin A
* Preformed
* Liver, fish oils, fortified milk, eggs
* Contributes to half of all the vitamin A intake
* Proformed
* Dark leafy green, yellow-orange vegetables/fruits
* Contributes to half of all the vitamin A intake
