VITAMIN A as an antioxidant

The body’s major defense system against free radicals, are antioxidants. They work against those substances that create oxidants (reactive substances produced from oxidation and reduction). Free radicals are neutralized by antioxidants, because they stabilize the molecule by supplying the missing electron. The different types of antioxidants are dietary antioxidants and those that the body produces itself. Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Selenium are 4 major antioxidant nutrients. And glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dimutase are antioxidant enzymes that the body produces to defend itself.

Vitamin A is very necessary for maintenance of the skin and for proper function of the eyes. It is found in the retina of all mammals and thereby has acquired the scientific name retinal. It is also found in the liver.

Vitamin A generally boosts our resistance to infections and keeps all the linings of the body healthy. It is essential for health and moisture of the skin and the specialized-cells lining the eyes, esophagus, stomach intestines, lungs, mouth, nose, throat and urinary tract. These cells are the epithelial cells, but they thicken and harden if there is insufficient Vitamin A. This is harmful for health, for example “The respiratory and digestive system cannot pulsate well to remove harmful particles away from the lungs, if the lining of both the systems thickens and hardens. And then one becomes more prone to infection. Against invading microorganisms and toxins, our skin and mucous membrane is the first form of defense. And so by supplementing our diet with Vitamin A we can increase its strength.

Dosage of Vitamin A

Vitamin A can reach toxic levels if they build up in the liver. Take beta-carotene to ward off this possibility. Beta-carotene is converted to Vitamin A as needed by the body and thereby prevents the danger of toxic levels of the Vitamin. Vitamin A is soluble in fat, and so in a non-fat diets it will be unabsorbed. Therefore for a sufficient Vitamin A absorption at least 5gms of fat a day is necessary.