Published By: Sayan Paul

What are the functions of vitamin A in the human body?

Vitamin A is a group of fat-soluble compounds.

It has a major role in numerous functions of your body.

In this article, we'll talk about the important ones among them.

As already mentioned, vitamin A is a group of fat-soluble compounds, including retinol, retinal, and retinyl esters. It's available in two different forms (preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids) and is present naturally in fruits, vegetables, dairy, and more.

Being fat-soluble, vitamin A gets stored in your body's tissues for later use as well. It's essential for your health, reducing your risk of several issues in the long run.

Without further ado, let's have a look at the functions of vitamin A in your body.

It maintains the eyesight

Vitamin A helps convert light (that hits your cornea) into an electrical signal, and further sends it to your brain. Hence, it's needless to say that vitamin A is highly important for maintaining your eyesight. people deficient in this nutrient might experience night blindness and numerous other eye-related issues.

It boosts the immune system

As research has found, vitamin A supports the production of white blood cells, aiding in the overall functioning of your immune system. It helps keep you protected from a number of different infections. A deficiency can increase your risk of viral and bacterial diseases. So, if you are suffering from such issues, do maintain a vitamin A-rich diet regularly.

It supports bone health

Although vitamin A is not directly involved in the bone mineralization process, it helps a lot in strengthening your bones and muscles. It supports bone growth and also reduces your risk of developing numerous bone-related issues. For the same reason, a deficiency in vitamin A can increase your risk of bone fractures.

It aids in skin health

Vitamin A helps the immature skin cells to develop into mature epidermal cells. It also decreases the size of sebaceous glands and reduces excessive oil secretion on the skin. Moreover, it inhibits the growth of bacteria on the skin's surface, reducing your risk of acne and pimples to a significant extent. In the long run, daily intake of a vitamin A-rich diet may lower your risk of several issues like eczema and psoriasis.

It helps reduce cancer risk

Vitamin A, in the form of retinoic acid, plays a significant role in the growth and development of your body's cells. Also, on the other hand, it restricts the activities of the cancerous cells in your body. If properly maintained, a vitamin A-rich diet may lower your risk of certain types of cancer, such as lung, bladder, etc.

Besides these, it also aids protein formation, boosts hair growth, maintains oral health, etc.