Vitamin A
Functions
The body needs vitamin A for:
- healthy eyesight
- healthy skin
- healthy immune system
- normal growth and development
- antioxidant properties, helping protect the body from cancer and Cardiovascular disease (CVD) develops when the blood supply to the muscles and tissues of the heart becomes obstructed by a build-up of cholesterol.
- healthy development of a foetus in the womb
Sources
There are two types of vitamin A – retinol and beta-carotene.
Retinol is the name for sources of vitamin A which come from animals, while beta-carotene is the name for sources of vitamin A from plant origin.
Retinol sources include:
- liver
- oily fish
- eggs
- cheese
- whole milk
- butter and fortified margarine
Beta-carotene sources include:
- carrots
- fruits that are orange in colour – for example, oranges and peaches
- green leafy vegetables – for example, Brussels sprouts