The first Vitamin discovered, Vitamin A is essential for, among other things, vision (especially night vision), regulation of cell development, immunity and healthy skin. Vitamin A compounds include retinal, retinol, and the carotenoids. We get varying amounts of it in our diet either as preformed Vitamin A (retinol and retinal) or as proform Vitamin A (carotenoids). Preformed vitamin A is found in some meats and animal products. Proformed vitamin A substances like beta-carotene are converted into vitamin A once inside the body and are found in many fruits and vegetables. |