Health Benefits of Vitamin A in Children

Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is the most essential fat soluble vitamin required for healthy growth of children.

The name retinol comes from the prime function of this vitamin that is regulating the vision.

Requirement of Vitamin A in children can be fulfilled from animal and plant sources. Some of the best animal sources are liver and tissues. Vitamin A can also be received by consuming good amount of dark green and dark yellow vegetables.

Plants sources basically contain carotenes that are converted to Vitamin A when absorbed by children in the intestine.

Children and Vitamin A often work together. This is because of the multitude functions that the vitamin performs. The key function is to regulate the vision.

Human retina comprises of four photo pigments that stores Vitamin A. One of the photo pigments is known as rhodopsin that contains rod cells responsible for visual excitation. Other three pigments are collectively known as iodopsin that is responsible for day vision.

Apart from regulating the vision, Vitamin for children is also essential for performing normal activities related to immune system, bone development, mental growth, tissue maintenance and various other physiological activities.

According to the RDA Vitamin A, children of 3 years or younger require maximum of 600 micrograms per day, children of 4-8 years require maximum of 900 microgram per day and children of 9-14 years require 1,700 micrograms per day.

Infants, kids and children all are greatly influenced by the optimum level of Vitamin A. If the level is low, they show signs of Vitamin A deficiency. With deficiency of Vitamin A, kids show symptoms of loss of appetite, bone abnormalities, dry skin and growth retardation.

Vitamin A for kids is good only till the optimum level is maintained.

If kids and children take an overdose of these vitamins they are prone to fatal health disorders. Most of the cases of food poisoning are reported by excessive intake of vitamin supplements. This is because most of these supplements contain iron.

Toxicity of iron results in fatal poisoning and even death. With toxicity of Vitamin A, children show signs of fatigue, weight loss, acute indigestion, irritability and vomiting.

So, it is very essential to maintain the right quantity of Vitamin A in children’s body.

Vitamin A diet benefits and Vitamin A food sources

What foods contain vitamin A?

Vitamin A is a very important nutrient for the human body - it is required for proper functioning of the body, in particular by the eyes, the immune system, the skin, the bones, the reproductive system, and in preventing diseases such as cancer and heart disease. It belongs to the retinoid family and can be found in several forms. The vitamin can also be found in an acidic and Adelhyde form.

There are a number of foods that are good sources of vitamin A. Fortified foods are of course one such source - today many foods are fortified with various vitamins that are artificially added to them. Milk that is low fat or skimmed is often fortified with vitamin A; this is done because the removed fat from the milk contains a good amount of vitamin A.

Some ready to eat meals contain vitamin A as well. You can check this out by reading the nutrition information provided on the food packaging itself.

Vitamin A that comes from animal or natural food sources is called preformed vitamin A. Once absorbed by the body, this usually gets converted to retinol, which is a very widely used formed of vitamin A. Foods like whole milk, fruits and vegetables that have bright colors, and some meats are also good sources of vitamin A. Carrot contains vitamin A in good amounts. Liver is probably the best source of vitamin A there is, and any liver will do, whether from chicken, beef, pork, turkey, or sea food). However liver should be eaten only once or twice a month, as it can contain a number of toxic substances. Red palm oil and fish oils are also good sources of vitamin A. Other foods that contain vitamin A are broccoli, pumpkin, spinach (and most other leafy vegetables), and sweet potatoes. Apart from these food sources of vitamin A, it can also be consumed in a form of nutritional supplements. These supplements are usually available in a capsule or powder form.

Vitamin A is easily lost from foods when they are cooked or stored for a long period of time. Therefore you should make sure that you keep fruits and vegetables covered or refrigerated when storing them, and better still, consume them as fresh as possible. Whenever possible, you should avoid cooking foods that contain vitamin A. Instead of cooking them, you should steam or bake foods that contain vitamin A.

Doctors