Micronutrients:Vitamin A

Sources:

• Animal Sources (retinol)- found in eggs, oily fish, liver, full fat milk, butter and cheese
• Vegetable sources (Carotene) found in carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, cantaloupe melon, broccoli, spinach, pumpkin and all other green and orange fruits and vegetables.
• (broccoli is a good source of vitamin A, but the chlorophyll (green) camouflages the yellow carotene colour. if chlorophyll was absent broccoli would be yellow or orange.
• in UK diet 75% of vitamin A is Retinol and 25% Carotene
• during digestion significant amount of carotene is converted into retinol. it can be more easily absorbed into the body then. retinol can be stored in the liver for 2 years

Functions:

• aids vision, especially in the dark. retinol is associated with the protection and maintenance of the retina in the eye. The retina is a light sensitive tissue lining the back of the of the eye, which allows vision in dim light. rhodopsin is a pigment in the retina. vitamin A is needed for the formation of the rhodopsin also known as visual purple
• maintains mucous membranes that line any openings to the body, such as nose, throat, lungs, mouth, stomach and urinary tract. 
• helps formation of…