Maintains the immune system; protects eyesight; keeps skin and tissues of the digestive tract and respiratory system healthy; antioxidant.
How Much: Recommended daily allowance (RDA) = 3,000 International Units (IU) for men; 2,333 IU for women.
Too Much: Upper limit (UL) = 10,000 IU from retinol, but half that amount may increase the risk of fractures.
Too Little: Rare; night blindness and weakened immune system.
Foods: Beta-carotene: apricots, cantaloupe, carrots, dark leafy greens and sweet potatoes. Retinol: cheese, liver, eggs and fortified milk.
Interactions: Cholestyramine (Questran), mineral oil, oral contraceptives and isotretinoin (Accutane.)
Research Note: A study suggests a form of vitamin A called all-trans-retinoic acid may be useful for treating autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
1 medium carrot = 10191 IU
1 egg, cooked, fried = 335 IU
1 8 oz glass milk without added vitamins A and D = 37 IU
1 8 oz glass milk with added vitamins A and D = 500 IU
Thanks,
The Editors
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