Vitamin A is an essential nutrient which means we need to consume an adequate amount since our bodies don't make it. Sounds easy enough, until you factor in allergies, preferences, cuisine availability, grocery budget, etc.  Thankfully, supplements like our Nutramin Multivitamin Gummies are packed with essential vitamins and minerals for overall optimal health.  In this blog, we'll talk about what vitamin A is, what it does, and where to get it.

Understanding the Importance of Vitamin A for Optimal Health

Vitamin A is very important as it encourages the growth of new skin cells and repairs injuries. It works alongside calcium and Vitamin D to form healthy bones and teeth.

Vitamin A is the generic term for a group of fat-soluble compounds. Vitamin A compounds are found in both animal and plant foods and come in two different forms:preformed vitamin A andprovitamin A.

So, what's the difference?

1. Preformed vitamin A is the active form of the vitamin, which your body can use as it is. It’s found in animal products including meat, chicken, fish and dairy and includes the compounds retinol, retinal and retinoic acid.
2. Provitamin A is the inactive form of the vitamin found in plants.

Vitamin A plays an important role in many areas of your health:

1. Protects your eyes from night blindness and age related decline: Getting enough vitamin A helps maintain the health of the retinas of your eyes and prevents age related macular degeneration. Vitamin A is not only beneficial to a healthy functioning eye, but is also required for the formation of the photoreceptor rhodopsin. This photopigment found in rod cells of the retina is especially helpful in allowing our eyes to see at night. That means night blindness is often one of the first signs of vitamin A deficiency.  Getting an adequate amount of vitamin A via supplement such as Nutramin's Multivitamin for Adults may help slow the decline in eyesight that some people experience as they age.
   
   
2. Supports a healthy immune system: Vitamin A supports the immune system through its strong antioxidant activity. By reducing the chances of inflammation that can damage cells and tissues, it lessens the aging process. Vitamin A plays a vital role in maintaining your body’s natural defenses. This includes the mucous barriers in your eyes, lungs, and gut which help trap bacteria. It’s also involved in the production and function of white blood cells, which help capture and clear bacteria and other pathogens from your bloodstream. In other words, a deficiency in vitamin A can increase your chances of infections and slow down your recovery when you get sick. Yikes!

Why Do People Take Vitamin A Supplements?

Certain people are more vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency. For example, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers need greater amounts of vitamin A as they are providing for themselves and their still-developing babies.

Pure vegans are also at risk of vitamin A deficiency. By refraining from eating fish and dairy products, they aren't able to ingest natural Vitamin A found in animal foods.

How much vitamin A do you need?

Adults need between 700 and 900 micrograms of vitamin A every day to avoid a deficiency. Most people can get that through food, but some people with certain health conditions may need supplements to help them meet their needs. 

Specifically people with cystic fibrosis, a condition that damages the digestive tract and makes it harder to absorb vitamins through food.

People with digestive disorders such as celiac disease and Chron's disease may also need vitamin A supplements.

How to choose the right vitamin A supplement

If you're concerned about the signs of vitamin A deficiency, contact your healthcare expert.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any conditions. It's always a good idea to chat with your doctor before beginning any new supplement, especially if you're already taking medication.

With that being said, we recognize we're a bit biased in giving advice on how to choose the right supplement for you.  

What we can confirm is that you should look for a few key things:

• Sugar content - your ideal supplement should be sugar-free, both for optimal teeth and gut health.
• Other ingredients - your supplement should be straightforward.  It should contain the things you need, and very little else!  We pride ourselves on using natural flavors and sweeteners in our gummy products to keep our label simple, and clear.
• Ingredient source - it should be easy to figure out the sources of ingredients used in your products.  Especially where allergens are concerned - knowing the routes your products take to get to your home is integral. 

Vitamin a is part of Nutracelle’s main formula base, which is found in every one of our gut-friendly gummies. To browse our full list of allergen-friendly vegan products, click here.