Vitamin A is used for vitamin A deficiency, improving vision, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataracts, infection, and improving immune function. It is also used orally for skin conditions including acne, eczema, psoriasis, cold sores, wounds, burns, sunburn, keratosis follicularis (Darier's disease), ichthyosis (noninflammatory skin scaling), lichen planus pigmentosus, and pityriasis rubra pilaris. Vitamin A is also used orally to prevent and treat vitamin A deficiency due to abnormal storage and transport of vitamin A in people with abetalipoproteinemia, protein deficiency, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, fever, liver disease, or cystic fibrosis with liver involvement. It is also used orally for heavy menses, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), atrophic vaginitis, candidiasis, fibrocystic breast disease, reduced sperm count, gastrointestinal ulcers, Crohn's disease, periodontal disease, diabetes, Hurler syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis), sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Vitamin A is also used for reducing complications of measles, shigellosis, atrophic rhinitis, loss of sense of smell, asthma, persistent headaches, kidney stones, hyperthyroidism, anemia, deafness, tinnitus, and leukoplakia. Other oral uses include preventing and treating cancer, degenerative diseases of the nervous system, protecting the heart and cardiovascular system (antioxidant effects), and slowing the aging process.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin. Vitamin A includes a family of molecules containing a 20-carbon structure with various chemical groups at the 15 carbon position. Variations at the 15 carbon position yield different vitamin A forms, including retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and retinyl ester. These different forms of vitamin A are often collectively referred to as "retinoids." The most potent form of vitamin A, all-trans retinol, is the form of retinol in the diet. It reverses signs and symptoms of vitamin A deficiency and is the standard for vitamin A activity. The vitamin A family also includes provitamin A carotenoids, which are dietary precursors to retinol.
Vitamin A is required for vision, growth and bone development, reproduction, cell proliferation and differentiation, immune function, and the integrity of mucosal and epithelial surfaces.
Xanthophyll (Lutein) - lutein is used for preventing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, retinitis pigmentosa, and colon cancer. Please see our Lutein and Beta-Carotene ingredient information links for more data.