Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for the growth and development of all epithelial cells in the human body, including the skin. Vitamin A exists in different forms depending on animal or plant foods. Let’s learn about the form and characteristics of vitamin A in each food.
Animal food = retinoids
Vitamin A is present in the form of retinoids in animal foods such as liver, fish, and eggs. Retinoids include retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid. In our body, they are mainly in the form of retinyl esters, a complex of retinol and fatty acids.
Plant foods = carotenoids
Vitamin A exists in the form of carotenoids in green and yellow vegetables such as spinach and carrots and in animal foods such as seaweeds such as seaweed and seaweed. Carotenoids are precursors of vitamin A that are converted to vitamin A by body cells, and there are more than 600 species, among which alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin are converted to vitamin A.
When consuming foods rich in vitamin A, it is best to eat a balanced diet of animal and plant foods. However, it is recommended not to eat too much animal food, which may have side effects, and to consume plant food by choosing a method that can increase absorption in the body.
Help = Hydak Nutrition Counseling Seongwon Yoon (nutritionist)