Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient required throughout
human life to perform multiple metabolic functions. The vital biological roles
of vitamin A compounds include normal cell growth, cell differentiation,
vision, and maintenance of immune function, maintenance of cell integrity,
lipid metabolism, and antioxidant action.
The human diet contains two sources for vitamin A: preformed
vitamin A (retinol and retinyl esters) and provitamin A carotenoids. Preformed
vitamin A is found in foods from animal sources, including dairy products,
eggs, fish, and organ meats. Provitamin A carotenoids are plant pigments that
the body converts into vitamin A in the intestine. The main provitamin A
carotenoids in the human diet are beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and
beta-cryptoxanthin. Retinyl esters and
provitamin A carotenoids are converted to retinol after uptake into the lumen.
Retinol is then oxidized to retinal and retinoic acid, the two main active
vitamin A metabolites in the body. Most of the body’s vitamin A is stored in
the liver in the form of retinyl esters.
Not all diets are sufficient to meet daily requirements of
vitamin A, especially people on restricted diets, or elderly population or
people with certain physiological conditions or impaired vision may have low
serum vitamin A levels. Therefore, to strengthen body’s growth and functions it
is necessary to take a supplement like Unived’s Natural Beta-Carotene supplies
you with Vitamin A precursor to ensure that your body has a good reserve of
Vitamin A at all times.
Unived’s Beta-Carotene is formulated with
1. A superior source of Vitamin A from Blakeslea trispora:
This has higher pro-vitamin A activity due to a higher content of
trans-isomers, with no contaminants since it is processed in an enclosed
environment.
2. Spirulina, a rich source of carotenoids: This contains
the highest levels of beta-carotene and zeaxanthin.
3. Piperine, a bioenhancer: Piper nigrum extract providing
20% piperine, which is known to enhance the uptake of beta-carotene and reduce
vitamin A deficiency.
Mode of Action:
- Has a specific highly complex function in dark vision [2].
- Serves as an essential component of rhodopsin, the
light-sensitive protein in the retina that responds to light entering the eye,
and because it supports the normal differentiation and functioning of the
conjunctival membranes and cornea. - Functions as an immune enhancer that potentiates the
antibody response; at the same time it maintains and restores the integration
of all mucosal cells and their functions [1]. - Actively involved in the production of red blood cells,
which are derived from stem cells that depend upon retinoids for their proper
differentiation [1]. - Improve photo-aged and chronologically aged skin
pathologies. They promote the deposition of new collagen fibers and prevent
degradation from occurring in such skin types. [1] - Has the ability to scavenge for reactive oxygen species [1].
- Vitamin A is known to be involved in the normal growth of
the musculoskeletal system [1].
According to European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), clear
health benefits have been established for the dietary intake of vitamin A in
contributing to [3]:
- normal cell differentiation;
- normal function of the immune system;
- the maintenance of normal skin and mucous membranes;
- the maintenance of normal vision; normal iron metabolism
References:
1. Noh, Mohd Fairulnizal Md, Rathi Devi Nair Gunasegavan,
and Suraiami Mustar. "Vitamin A in health and disease." Vitamin A
(2019).
2. Gerster, Helga. "Vitamin A-functions, dietary
requirements and safety in humans." International journal for vitamin and
nutrition research 67.2 (1997): 71-90.
3. Agostoni, C. V., et al. "Scientific opinion on the
substantiation of health claims related to vitamin A (including β-Carotene) and
maintenance of normal vision (ID 4239, 4701), Maintenance of Normal Skin and
Mucous Membranes (ID 4660, 4702), and Maintenance of Normal Hair (ID 4660)
Pursuant to Article 13 (1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006." EFSA JOURNAL
8.10 (2010).
4. Vitamin, A and Carotenoids. "Fact sheet for health
professionals." National Institutes of Health. Office of Dietary
Supplements. Available online:
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/(2022).