MIND BLOWING FACTS ABOUT VITAMINS

 MIND BLOWING FACTS ABOUT SOME SELECTED VITAMINS YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN BEFORE(Vitamin A)

Hey guys, I know you've heard about vitamins and what they do in the body. But do you have a concrete knowledge about them???

Don't worry. I'm here to give you all the information you need. All of them are scientifically proven and can be researched.

In this blog post, I'll be dealing with a group of vitamins called "the fat soluble" vitamins. 

 I'll be treating them one in each post starting with Vitamin A.

However, let me give you an overview of what Vitamins are.

        

              WHAT ARE VITAMINS?

  Vitamins are organic compounds required by the body in small amounts(mostly in micrograms) for metabolism, to protect health, and proper growth. They assist in the formation of hormones(substances which control so many activities in the body) blood cells, nervous system, chemicals and genetic material. 

  They generally act as catalysts to activate enzymes (materials that help in breaking down of food) that produce several reactions in the body. Thus without vitamins, some of these reactions may slow down or cease and their absence leads to some deficiencies and symptoms.

      THE FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS

1. Vitamin A: This is a generic name for a large number of related compounds. 

  Retinol(alcohol) and Retinal(aldehyde) are often  called preformed vitamin A. Retinol can be converted to retinoic acid, form of vitamin A known to effect genetic transcription. 

    Retinoids includes retinol, retinals, retinic acid.

  Carotenoids like Betacarotenoid which can be converted to retinol are referred to as provitamin A carotenoids.

  Retinone is absorbed by retina cells, rods and cones and these combine with opsin(a protein) to form rhodopsin and iodopsin respectively. 

   Rhodopsin and Iodopsin are pigments which undergo phytolysis when an image is formed on the retina during vision.

  Retinol is also necessary for formation of keratin and smooth skin and bones.

  Thus, the primary function of Vitamin A is providing healthy eyes, smooth skin and bones.

     VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY AND EFFECTS

Deficiency of all vitamins in the body has their effects of consequences. Below are the effects of deficiency of Vitamin A:

1. Deficiency of vitamin A is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children, with impaired dark adapter(night blindness) the earliest symptom.

2. Mild deficiency of vitamin A may result in Bitot's eyes(Conjunctiva).

3. Severe Deficiency of Vitamin A may result to Xerophthalmia (dry eyes), changes in the corner resulting to corner ulcers, scarring and ultimately, blindness.

N.B: Toxicity of Vitamin A leads to Joint pain, dry and itchy skin, cracked lips, nausea and vomiting, weight loss.

        SOURCES OF VITAMIN A

Now that you've learnt some things about vitamin and the effect of its deficiency, let me show you the food sources through which you can get vitamin A.

1. Fruits like avocado pear, oranges, garden egg, etc.

2. Animal sources like Liver, eggs, fish.

3. Vegetables like lettuce, cucumber, and dark leafy vegetables.

4. Others sources including buttons, and vitamins A supplements.

To learn more about sources of vitamin A, check out older posts on this blog about some selected fruits. 

Gracias!!!!