30.05.2021 – 15:13
Vitamin A comes in two forms. It is found as retinol in animal foods and as beta-carotene in plants. Plant B-carotene is converted to vitamin A in our body.
The storage of vitamin A in the body is the liver, so its main source is the liver of various animals. On the other hand, plant-based foods rich in this vitamin are dark green, yellow or orange vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, peas, greens, leeks and red peppers. In fact, for better absorption by the body, it is recommended when consuming foods rich in vitamin A, to accompany them with fat sources, e.g. olive oil.
In cases of insufficient intake of vitamin A, which can be observed in cases of malnutrition, serious effects have been observed, such as difficulty seeing in the dark, dry eyes, but also susceptibility to respiratory and urinary tract infections and fatigue. often.
On the other hand, excessive intake can cause hypervitaminosis, with symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, dry skin, bleeding gums, dizziness, blurred vision and confusion or even more serious health problems ( liver damage).
Although on a balanced diet, hypervitaminosis is rare, there is a risk that it can occur in the case of systematic consumption of many foods rich in vitamin A, such as liver (or abuse of supplements). On the other hand, excessive consumption of β-carotene does not bring risks beyond the possibility of the skin taking on a yellow tinge.
