Vitamin A is a superstar nutrient that plays many important roles in your body.

• Other Names: Sometimes you might see Vitamin A called retinol, retinoids, or provitamin A (especially for plant sources).

What does Vitamin A do?

• Keeps your eyes healthy: Vitamin A helps you see in low light and is important for maintaining a healthy cornea (the clear surface of your eye).
• Supports your immune system: Vitamin A helps your body fight off infections and illnesses.
• Promotes healthy growth and development: Vitamin A is essential for normal cell growth throughout your body.
• Keeps skin healthy: Vitamin A can help maintain healthy skin and mucous membranes.

Connection to Beta-Carotene

Did you know that you can get some Vitamin A from brightly colored fruits and vegetables? Certain plant pigments called carotenoids, including beta-carotene, can be converted by your body into Vitamin A. So when you eat those carrots and sweet potatoes, you’re giving your body the ingredients it needs!

Vitamin or Mineral?

Vitamin A is a vitamin. Vitamins are essential nutrients that your body needs in small amounts to function properly. Unlike minerals, which are inorganic elements found in soil and rocks, vitamins are often organic compounds derived from plants or animals.

Etymology (Word Origins)

• “Vitamin” was first discovered in the early 1900s, and scientists simply named the essential nutrients they were finding “Vitamin A,” “Vitamin B,” and so on. The “A” doesn’t have a specific meaning related to the vitamin itself.
• “Retinol” comes from the Latin word “retina,” which refers to the light-sensitive part of the eye. This makes sense because Vitamin A is particularly important for eye health.