Vitamin A prevents night blindness and other eye problems, as well as some skin disorders. It enhances immunity, may help to heal gastrointestinal ulcers, and is needed for the maintenance and repair of epithelial tissue, of which the skin and mucous membranes are composed.
It’s important in the formation of bones and teeth, aids in fat storage, and protects against colds, flu, and infections of the kidneys, bladder, lungs, and mucous membranes.
Vitamin A acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect the cells against cancer and other diseases and is necessary for new cell growth its guards against heart disease and stroke, and lowers cholesterol levels. People receiving radiation treatment for cervical cancer, prostate cancer, or colorectal cancer have benefited from taking oral vitamin A.
The important vitamin A also slows the aging process. The body cannot utilize protein without vitamin A.
Vitamin A is well-know wrinkle eliminator. Vitamin A reduces fine lines in the skin and helps to fade age spots.
A deficiency of vitamin A can cause dry hair and skin, dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea, poor growth, and blindness. Other possible results of vitamin A deficiency include abscess in the ears, insomnia, fatigue, sinusitis, pneumonia and frequent colds and other respiratory infections.
Excessive intake of vitamin A during pregnancy has been linked to birth defects; including cleft palate and heart defects.
Sources
Balch. P.A., 2006. Prescription for nutritional healing. 4th edition. Editorial Penguin Group, USA. Page. 18