Vitamin A is stereotypically known as “the sight vitamin.” This is scientifically true, because vitamin A is a vitamin that the retina of the eye needs in order to do things in color and in lowlight. However, the vitamin also is involved in a different role as a form of retinol, which functions as a sort of natural human growth hormone in the body.

The vitamin is recommended to be taken in progressively increased dosages from the time of infancy all the way up until 70 years of age. Pregnant and lactating females are also recommended to take the maximum dose per day for an adult person. The reason for this is that the retinoic acid form of the vitamin plays a major role in gene transcription, which allows for the baby to be born as a healthy infant. Deficiency in the vitamin can mean that some genetics simply do not pass from the mother to the baby, which means that the baby can be born with all kinds of health and mental defects.

The vitamin also keeps the skin healthy. The retinoic acid version of the vitamin is a major component in the treatment of acne, as it reduces the ability of the sebaceous glands to secrete compounds that attract the bacteria that cause acne on the skin.

The vitamin is found in many foods, including but not limited to liver, can’t liver oil, carrots, broccoli, butter, spinach, pumpkin, collard greens, cheddar cheese, cantaloupe, eggs, apricots, papaya, mango, dandelion greens, peas and milk.

There are many ways to be deficient in this vitamin as it is often overlooked in favor of the more popular vitamins, such as vitamin C and vitamin D. However, it is difficult to overdose on the vitamin because it is fat-soluble, meaning that people should take a great deal of it if they have any of the problems that are associated with deficiency.