When we realize we are lack of vitamin A, we usually just go out buy whatever we can find at lowest possible prices, or some may go for a particular brand they believe with so called good reputation (mostly influenced by their ads, honestly). But do most of us really know what we are buying into?
Vitamin A has three functions, most notably the protection of eyesight. Vitamin A is one of the major components of rhodopsin (mostly formed by protein) in the eye retina. Rhodopsin absorbs lights and stimulates biochemical reactions, eventually causes nerves' sensitivity. Second, vitamin A can also initiate gene expressions and ultimately control cell mutation. Vitamin A also affects our immune system, taste, hearing, appetite, skin renewal and bone development. Vitamin A's another role is to control embryonic development. Retinoic acid can also regulate the expressions of certain genes, which results in dominating the muscle and organ development.
Lack of vitamin A is a common health problem in developing countries. Every year about 500,000 preschool children go blind due to vitamin A deficiency. Millions of people showed symptoms of blindness at night due to the same reason. It is estimated one million children in the world showing no symptoms at all even they are actually lack of Vitamin A.
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