Vitamin A, also known as retinol or anti-dry eye vitamin, is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is a component of retinol, the light-sensitive substance in visual cells.

Vitamin A consists of two kinds: one is the vitamin A that has been formed, i.e., retinol, retinaldehyde, retinoic acid, etc., which is found only in animal foods; the other is vitamin A proto, which can be converted from alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and so on, in plant foods.

Physiological function

1. Protect the eyes Vitamin A has always been known as "eye protection", it is not only related to the secretion of tears, but also regulates the eyes to adapt to the outside world of the strong and weak light, so that it is in the dark or the light to maintain visual acuity, it is an indispensable important nutrient to maintain eye health.

2. Promote the growth of human bones, protect human tissues and organs Vitamin A on the human body's bone development and the normal growth of the muscle body plays a very important role. Because, vitamin A can make immature cells into bone cells, so that the number of bone cells increased, thus promoting the growth and development of bones and teeth.

In addition, vitamin A can promote mucus secretion. It prevents bacterial infections, thus protecting the normal functioning of the body's tissues and organs, and maintains a healthy respiratory system.

3. Enhance the body's immunity, prevent cancer Vitamin A can improve the immune function of the body's cells and body fluids, enhance the ability to fight infection and resistance to disease. According to clinical observation, children take vitamin A in moderation, can make the number of respiratory tract infections significantly reduced or shorten the duration of the disease, the symptoms are reduced.

Vitamin A is also involved in the synthesis of inter-tissue mucopolysaccharides, which play an adhesive and protective role for cells. It helps protect the health of the skin, nose, throat, lining of the respiratory organs, epithelial tissues of the digestive system and the genitourinary tract, and strengthens the body's resistance to infectious diseases and parasitic infections.

In addition, vitamin A has a role in the prevention and treatment of cancer caused by air pollution.

Deficiency manifestations

Inadequate intake of vitamin A in the body can lead to vitamin A deficiency. It causes chronic diseases of the skin and eyes.

1. Dry eye and night blindness vitamin A deficiency, affecting the synthesis and regeneration of photoreceptor substances in the visual cells, there will be a gradual occurrence of dry eye, corneal chondromalacia or night blindness with reduced tears. Manifested as dry eyes, corneal softening, night vision loss, dark adaptation recovery time is prolonged.

In severe cases, night blindness can develop. Vitamin A deficiency eye lesions, is China's earliest discovery of the disease known as "bird's eye" or "chicken blind eye", in the 1300 years ago in the Tang Dynasty Sun Simiao has been used sheep liver treatment "bird's eye "

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2. follicular keratosis pilaris vitamin A deficiency in the skin manifested as non-inflammatory spiny follicular papules, manifested as epithelial cell degeneration and increased keratinization. The epithelial cells of the hair follicles are hyperkeratotic, and the follicles are filled with annular layers of keratinized cells, forming keratin plugs, and the hair papillae, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands all show atrophic changes. Initially, the skin becomes progressively drier and more scaly. Later follicular papules appear, conical pinhead-sized and dark brownish. Later they gradually increase in number and are densely and uniformly distributed on the limbs, neck, buttocks and back, significantly elevated above the skin surface. In the center there is a sharp keratinous embolism. Sometimes there is keratitis. Hair is dry and lacks luster, and there may be diffuse thinning of the hair. Nails are less shiny than normal and may have longitudinal ridges, transverse ridges, pitting or become brittle.

3. Reduced immunity Vitamin A deficiency can reduce the body's immune function, producing symptoms such as reduced immunity to infectious diseases of the respiratory system.

4. Impact on children's development Children who are deficient in vitamin A are prone to growth retardation and poor bone development.

Reasons for deficiency

1. Vitamin A is more abundant in green vegetables, carrots, animal liver, as well as eggs and milk.

If the food is chronically deficient in these substances, primary vitamin A deficiency can easily result.

2. Gastroenteritis can affect the conversion of vitamin A into vitamin A, thus affecting the absorption and storage of vitamin A in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, in the case of suffering from gastroenteritis and long-term diarrhea, it is easy to lead to secondary vitamin A deficiency.

Treatment plan

1. Vitamin A capsule, oral 1 pill each time, 3 times a day, mainly used for the prevention and treatment of night blindness, dry eye, skin follicular keratosis and other vitamin A deficiency; if the gastrointestinal absorption is not good, can be injected intramuscularly. After using the drug, the general vitamin A deficiency about 1 month to improve, 3 ~ 4 months gradually cured.

2. Vitamin AD capsule (concentrated cod liver oil capsule), oral 1 pill each time, 3 times a day. Continuous use, should be based on the condition of the discretionary day to stop.

3. Vitamin AD drops (containing vitamin A and vitamin D), preventive dose of 3-6 drops per day, the therapeutic dose of 15-60 drops per day; it is best to insist on the application of preventive dose for a period of time after the disease has recovered.

4. Multivitamin and trace element combinations such as 21 Gold Vitamin, Gold Silk, Gold Match, or Grow Happy can be taken.

Food sources

Vitamin A only exists in animal foods such as animal liver, egg yolk, dairy, fish eggs, cod liver oil preparations also contain a large number of vitamins A, D, plants do not contain vitamin A, but yellow-green plants, such as carrots contain carotene, corn, spinach, pea shoots, sweet potatoes, red heart, some fruits and chili peppers contain carotenoid, which can be converted in the human body into Vitamin A, of which beta-carotene has the highest vitamin A activity.

The need to supplement the crowd

1. Pregnant and lactating women Vitamin A can enhance the antioxidant function of human cells, so that the skin smooth, improve the dry phenomenon due to aging. It also helps to repair the uterus, vagina and other organ tissues. Therefore, pregnant women should pay attention to supplement vitamin A.

2. People in polluted environments When people are in polluted environments, the body is prone to produce free radicals.

This leads to a variety of diseases and accelerated aging and death, so compared with normal people, need more vitamin A to eliminate free radicals, to maintain muscle health and safety.

3. People working in front of computers for a long time have to stare at the screen for a long time, which consumes a lot of vitamin A. Therefore, we should pay more attention to the intake of some vitamin A.

4. People with diabetes can't convert β-carotene into vitamin A. Therefore, we need to supplement the vitamin A directly or it will lead to the peeling off of the retina.

5. Developmental teenagers and children vitamin A to promote the development of cells and tissues to help. Therefore, adolescents and children need to take vitamin A supplements regularly to maintain healthy growth.

6. Vitamin A for vegetarians is mostly found in animal foods. Therefore, vegetarians need to take regular supplements of beta-carotene to convert it into vitamin A to maintain the normal needs of the body.

Supplement Facts

1. Because vitamin A requires minerals and fats for digestion and absorption, and can be stored in the body, daily supplementation is not necessary.

2. If you can take B vitamins, vitamins D and E, and calcium, phosphorus and zinc together, the effect will be better.

3. Women who are taking oral contraceptives should reduce the amount of vitamin A they take.

4. Are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, you should increase the intake of vitamin A.

5. Because vitamin A and beta-carotene are easily destroyed by alkali, high temperature, etc., so it is not advisable to add baking soda in cooking to make the dish bright green. And like broccoli, spinach, carrots and other carotene-rich vegetables, after moderate cooking, can increase the utilization rate of carotene, but overcooked or frozen dehydrated, carotene is also easy to lose, need to pay attention to.

6. Vitamins in the air is easy to be oxidized, or by ultraviolet radiation and destruction, the loss of physiological effects, so the preparation of vitamin A should be packed in a brown bottle to avoid light storage.

Overdose Hazard

Long-term overdose of vitamin A can cause serious poisoning or even death. Repeated doses of vitamin A over a period of weeks to years, at doses more than 10 times the recommended intake, can cause chronic vitamin A toxicity. Vitamin A poisoning is manifested by fatigue, low fever, excessive sweating, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, headache, increased intracranial pressure, protruding eyeballs, diplopia, dry skin, skin rash, itchy skin, hyperpigmentation, hair loss, joint pain, calcification of periarticular tissues, arrested growth, hepatosplenomegaly, hypochromic anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and other symptoms.

In addition, for the fetus, if a pregnant woman takes a large amount of vitamin A in the early stages of pregnancy, the fetus will have anencephaly, eye defects, cleft palate, spina bifida, limb defects, and other malformations in the order of organ formation. Large amounts of vitamin A taken by pregnant women can also lead to urinary tract malformations as well as congenital cataracts in the fetus.

Taking large doses of vitamin A at one time will cause acute poisoning, a few hours after the irritability, lethargy, vertigo, delirium, coma, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, optic nerve papillae edema, protruding eyes, vision disorders, the infant increased intracranial pressure with fontanel bulge, skin erythema and other symptoms, stopping a few days the symptoms will disappear. Blood biochemistry results showed low thromboplastin, hypoproteinemia, increased serum alkaline phosphatase, increased lipids.

The solution

In the case of chronic vitamin A toxicity, it takes weeks to months after stopping the drug and supportive therapy to return to full normalcy. In the case of acute vitamin A toxicity, corticosteroids and vitamin C can reduce the toxic response.

Classic recipes

Cold Dutch beans

Raw materials 200 grams of Dutch beans, 50 grams of fungus, 50 grams of cucumber, 1 gram of salt, 5 grams of garlic flakes, 10 milliliters of vinegar, 3 milliliters of mustard oil.

Practice will wash the Dutch beans with hot water blanch, cool and dry; fungus soaked, also blanched and dry, cut into julienne; cucumber washed and cut into strips; put them in a container, add seasoning, mix well can be.

Effective blood circulation and swelling, clearing heat and detoxification. It has therapeutic effects on conditions such as hemorrhage under the eyes, edema, and dysuria.

FeaturesHolland beans contain vitamin A, the content of 80 micrograms per 100 grams; fungus has the role of laxative detoxification; cucumber crisp and refreshing, the effect of the body to quench thirst. This dish is cool and delicious, can enhance the appetite, especially suitable for hot summer consumption.

Butterfly liver tip

Raw materials 250 grams of liver, 100 grams of cucumber, salt, monosodium glutamate 1 gram each, 25 milliliters of vegetable oil, garlic, ginger, green onion 5 grams each, 6 milliliters of soy sauce, 4 milliliters of cooking wine.

Practice will be pig liver, cucumber clean and sliced; oil when hot into the onion, ginger, garlic, sautéed flavor into the pig liver stir-fry, and then poured into the cucumber and other seasonings, and then stir-fry for a few moments can be.

Effective blood nourishing liver, eyesight clearing heat. It has therapeutic effects on weakened eyesight, night blindness, insomnia, anemia and other conditions.

FeaturesPig liver is rich in vitamin A, with a content of nearly 5,000 micrograms per 100 grams. Of all the foods containing vitamin A, animal liver is at the top of the list and pig liver is one of them and is easy to buy. Cucumber is used here as a side dish to enhance the flavor of the dish and contains a variety of nutrients.

Shredded braised eel

Raw materials 350 grams of eel, salt, monosodium glutamate 1 gram each, 25 milliliters of vegetable oil, 10 milliliters of soy sauce, scallions, ginger 5 grams each, 10 milliliters of cooking wine.

Practice will be eel clean, cut into silk; oil fifty percent heat, into the onion, ginger stir-fry for a moment; then pour into the eel silk stir-fry; add seasonings and the right amount of water cooking; fish cooked into the monosodium glutamate can be.

Effects stopping bleeding and replenishing deficiency, benefiting qi and stopping cough. It is useful for the treatment of weakness, qi and blood deficiency, cough and other diseases.

FeaturesEel contains vitamin A, which is 890 micrograms per 100 grams. And eel has a delicious flavor and tender meat, which is a good dish for tonic and fitness.

Carrot fried shredded pork

Raw materials carrots 250 grams, 100 grams of lean pork, salt, monosodium glutamate 1 gram each, 25 milliliters of vegetable oil garlic, ginger 5 grams each, soy sauce 5 milliliters.

Practice will be washed and cut into slices of carrots, lean pork cut into shreds; oil fifty percent of the heat into the minced garlic, ginger, stir fry flavor pour into the shredded meat sautéed; and then put into the carrots; finally add seasoning, food can be stir-fried.

Effects bright day tonic liver, anti-cancer and anti-cancer. It has a therapeutic effect on night blindness, malnutrition, diabetes and other conditions.

FeaturesCarrots are rich in vitamin A. The content of about 688 micrograms per 100 grams is relatively rich in vitamin A in plant foods. Lean pork is rich in nutrients, and pairing it with carrots can promote the body's absorption of vitamin A.

Carrot beef stew

Raw materials carrot 250 grams, 200 grams of beef, salt, monosodium glutamate 1 gram each, 10 milliliters of soy sauce, ginger, garlic cloves 8 grams each, 5 grams of spices, 20 milliliters of vegetable oil.

Practice will be cut into pieces of beef, into the boiling water for a while, fishing; carrots washed and cut into pieces; oil heat into the ginger, garlic, cooking fry for a moment, into the beef, the rest of the seasoning and the right amount of water; beef stew to eight mature add carrots, stewed can be.

Effective eyesight and stomach, tonifying the kidney and qi. It has a therapeutic effect on vision loss, body weakness, stomach cold, kidney deficiency and other diseases.

FeaturesCarrots are rich in vitamin A; beef is warm and sweet, which has the effect of protecting against cold and replenishing deficiency. This dish is flavorful and mellow, full of flavor after eating, and rich in nutrients.

Carrot fried liver

Raw materials carrots 250 grams, 200 grams of liver, salt, monosodium glutamate l grams of vegetable oil 30 ml soy sauce 10 ml ginger 10 grams of sugar 6 grams of starch 10 grams of wine 10 ml.

Practice will be washed carrots, and pork liver are cut into slices, and soy sauce, cooking wine soaked pork liver; oil heat into the ginger and carrot slices stir-fried to five mature fish out; into the pork liver stir-fried to eight mature, add the carrot slices and seasoning to continue to stir-fry, stir-frying with cornstarch thickening can be.

Effective eyesight, liver, spleen and stomach. It has therapeutic effects on night blindness, dry eyes, malnutrition and other conditions.

FeaturesCarrots contain a lot of carotene, which can be converted into vitamin A in the body, and pig liver itself contains a lot of vitamin A, the two together can make people get more rich in vitamin A. This dish is not only good for the prevention and treatment of eye diseases, but also rich in a variety of nutrients.

Sour and spicy lamb liver

Raw materials lamb liver 300 grams, salt 1 gram, 20 milliliters of vegetable oil, 20 milliliters of vinegar, 10 grams of chili pepper, shredded green onion, ginger, garlic 5 grams each, 10 grams of starch.

Practice will be cooked sheep liver cut into slices; oil heat add onion, ginger, garlic, chili sautéed flavor, into the sheep liver stir-fry; sheep liver stir-fry with salt, vinegar, thickening with starch, stir-fry for a few moments can be.

Effective bright day appetizer, blood nourishing blood. It has therapeutic effects on night blindness, weakened eyesight, anemia and other conditions.

FeaturesSheep liver contains vitamin A, the content of 20972 micrograms per 100 grams, is the most rich in vitamin A in animal liver. This dish is tasty and can improve appetite and has the effect of appetizing and nourishing the liver.

Vegetarian fried greens

Raw materials greens 500 grams, 50 grams of mushrooms, salt 2 grams, 20 milliliters of vegetable oil, garlic 5 grams, starch 8 grams.

Practice will be washed, cut into sections; mushrooms soaked, blanched with boiling water, fish out; oil heat into the vegetables stir-fry for a few moments, into the mushrooms and seasonings; vegetables cooked with starch thickening can be.

Effective blood pressure, spleen and stomach. For high blood pressure, gastritis, blood stasis, constipation and other diseases have therapeutic effect.

FeaturesOil greens contain vitamin A, with a content of 103 micrograms per 100 grams. Shiitake mushrooms are flat, sweet, smooth and refreshing, and have the effect of stopping bleeding, regulating qi and fighting cancer. This dish is light in taste and elegant in color, and helps to enhance the body's metabolism.

Scrambled eggs leek

Raw materials leek 250 grams, 3 eggs, salt 2 grams, 1 gram of monosodium glutamate, 5 grams of garlic, 20 grams of vegetable oil.

Practice will be cleaned and cut into segments leeks; eggs into a bowl, mix well; oil hot pour into the egg mixture stir fry for a few moments, add leeks and seasonings, fried can be.

Effective blood circulation and dissipate blood stasis, clearing heat and removing toxins, moist and smooth. It has therapeutic efficacy in treating diseases such as stagnant blood, red eyes and sore throat, constipation and so on.

FeaturesChives contain vitamin A, with a content of about 235 micrograms per 100 grams. Eggs are rich in nutrients. But it is best not to eat raw. This dish is yellow and green with harmonious color, rich in many nutrients, and helps to improve the body's immunity.

Oyster sauce lettuce

Raw materials lettuce 500 grams, 50 grams of oyster sauce, salt, monosodium glutamate 1 gram each, 20 grams of vegetable oil.

Practice will lettuce clean, cut into slices; oil heat into the oyster sauce, lettuce stir fry for a few moments; add seasonings, vegetables can be flavored.

Effects lowering blood pressure and tonifying the kidneys, replenishing blood and benefiting the qi. For high blood pressure, urine and blood, kidney disease, heart disease and other conditions have a therapeutic effect.

Features Lettuce contains vitamin A original, the content of nearly 300 micrograms per 100 grams, but also rich in vitamin B and a variety of minerals. Oyster sauce also contains a variety of nutrients, with the fresh aroma of the sea, is a flavorful condiment. This dish is refreshing and delicious, and is an indispensable dish for summer diet.

Milk broccoli

Raw materials broccoli 200 grams, 100 grams of milk, 45 grams of mushrooms, 25 grams of ham, salt, monosodium glutamate 1 gram each, 25 grams of vegetable oil, sugar 5 grams.

The practice of broccoli into small pieces of clean, blanch with boiling water, fishing dry; will be soaked in mushrooms cut into slices; oil heat into the broccoli, mushrooms, stir fry for a moment; add ham, milk, and a variety of seasoning, stir fry can be.

Effective blood anti-cancer, moisturize the lungs and stop coughing. For cough, osteoporosis, qi and blood deficiency and other diseases have a therapeutic effect.

FeaturesBroccoli is rich in vitamin A proto, with a content of about 1202 micrograms per 100 grams, which is a relatively high content of vitamin A proto among vegetables. Shiitake mushrooms and ham as side dishes are also nutritious. This dish is delightfully colorful with a light creamy flavor.

Fern fried mushrooms

Raw materials fern 400 grams, 100 grams of mushrooms, 25 grams of green peppers, 2 grams of salt, 33 grams of vegetable oil, 5 grams of ginger, 10 grams of cornstarch, 6 milliliters of cooking wine.

Practice will be fern and mushrooms cleaned and cut into segments and slices, into the boiling water blanch a little fished out, green pepper cut into silk; oil six into the heat into the fern, mushrooms, green pepper and various seasonings, fried with starch thickening can be.

Effects clearing heat and detoxification, moistening the lungs to stop coughing, tonifying the kidney and stomach. It has therapeutic effects on vision loss, cold and cough, constipation and other conditions.

Characteristics fern contains vitamin A proto, about 280 micrograms per 100 grams, in addition, it is rich in vitamin C and a variety of minerals, barren mountains, meadows, the countryside can be found everywhere. Mushrooms and peppers play the role of side dishes and are rich in nutrients. This dish is flavorful and light.

Leek dumplings

Raw materials leek 500 grams, 3 eggs, 50 grams of shrimp, 500 grams of flour, salt 2 grams, 1 gram of monosodium glutamate, 5 milliliters of sesame oil, 8 grams of garlic, 15 milliliters of vegetable oil, vinegar 30 milliliters.

Practice to the noodles and good, will be cleaned and chopped leeks; the eggs fried, mixed well and cooled; add leeks, shrimp and a variety of seasonings, stirring evenly to make the filling; the noodles made of dumpling skin, wrapped dumplings; boiled with water can be. It can be dipped in vinegar and eaten.

Effective in promoting blood circulation and dissipating blood stasis, moistening and relaxing the bowels, nourishing the heart and benefiting the kidneys. It is useful in treating loss of appetite, indigestion, palpitation and insomnia, and constipation.

FeaturesChives are rich in vitamin A proto; eggs and shrimp skin, rich in nutrients; flour contains vitamin B1, which helps to prevent and treat foot ailments. Dumplings are a traditional diet in China, with a unique flavor and delicious taste, with distinctive dietary characteristics.

Purple shrimp soup

Raw materials purslane 60 grams, 50 grams of shrimp, 50 grams of tomatoes, salt, monosodium glutamate 1 gram each, 5 grams of soy sauce, pepper 4 grams.

Practice of the tomatoes washed and cut into pieces; add a suitable amount of water in the pot, the water boiled into the tomatoes; seaweed, shrimp washed, put into the pot; add seasonings and mix well.

Effects clearing heat and lowering blood pressure, tonifying the kidney and anti-cancer, tranquilizing the spirit and strengthening the bones. It has therapeutic effects on high blood pressure, cartilage disease, loss of qi and blood, neurasthenia, spleen and stomach weakness and other conditions.

Features purslane contains vitamin A original, the content of about 228 micrograms per 100 grams; shrimp skin is rich in nutrients, has a tranquilizing, anti-itching, bone-building effect. This soup is fresh, with the salty flavor of the sea, is a common, often eaten and other drinks.

Fern cucumber soup

Raw materials fern 200 grams, 80 grams of cucumber, salt, monosodium glutamate 1 gram each, starch 8 grams, pepper 3 grams.

Practice will be cleaned and cut into sections of fern, cucumber cleaned and cut into slices; pot add the right amount of water, put the fern, cucumber, until the water boiled to add a variety of seasonings, thickening with starch can be.

Effects bright eyes and tranquilize the mind, clearing heat and detoxification, and generating fluids to quench thirst. For vision loss, dizziness, edema, urinary incontinence and other conditions have a therapeutic effect.

FeaturesFern contains vitamin A original, the content of about 280 micrograms per 100 grams; cucumber crisp and sweet, rich in nutrients. This soup drink is light and fresh, with the effect of quenching thirst and eliminating summer heat, diuretic and detoxification, moistening the lungs and relieving cough.

Sheep liver round-grained rice porridge

Raw materials 150 grams of sheep liver, round-grained rice 100 grams, salt, monosodium glutamate 1 gram each, 25 grams of chives.

Practice will be round-grained rice, put into the pot, add the right amount of water to simmer; sheep liver with boiling water for a while, cut into dice, leeks cleaned and cut into pieces; round-grained rice simmering to six ripe into the sheep liver; porridge simmering into the seasoning, stirring can be.

Effective blood and eyesight, stomach and spleen. It has therapeutic effects on vision loss, night blindness, spleen and stomach weakness and other conditions.

FeaturesLamb's liver is rich in vitamin A; round-grained rice is nutritious and can promote digestion. Chives are used as a seasoning to enhance the flavor of the food and also add color. This food is slightly salty, refreshing and delicious, which can enhance people's appetite, maintain gastrointestinal health, protect eyesight and prevent night blindness.

Freshly squeezed mango juice

Raw material mango 500 grams, sweet orange 50 grams.

Practice of the mango and sweet orange peeled and cored, put into the juicer, squeezed out of the mango sweet orange juice can drink.

EffectsTo quench thirst, strengthen the spleen and stomach, improve appetite. It has therapeutic effects on loss of appetite, indigestion, dizziness and anemia.

FeaturesMangoes are rich in vitamin A, with a content of about 1,340 micrograms per 100 grams, which is relatively rich in vitamin A among fruits. Sweet orange contains vitamin A (nearly 30 micrograms per 100 grams), vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D and other vitamins, rich in nutrition. This juice has a sweet and sour taste, quenches thirst and helps digestion.

A glass of chilled mango sweet orange juice in the hot summer can dispel the heat, relieve fatigue, and help the recovery of physical strength.