Vitamin A

Full Title: Vitamin A

Journal: Advances in Nutrition

Year of Publication: 2017

PHHI Author(s): Mario Ferruzzi
Publication Author(s): Hawi Debelo, Janet A Novotny, Mario G Ferruzzi


Vitamin A (VA) is an essential micronutrient that plays an important role in a wide array of physiologic processes, including vision, immune response, cell differentiation and proliferation, intercellular communication, and reproduction. By definition, VA refers to the fat-soluble compound all-trans-retinol. However, it is commonly used to collectively represent retinol and its active metabolites, including retinal, retinyl ester, and retinoic acid. Retinoic acid regulates the transcription of >500 genes involved in cell growth and differentiation by serving as the natural ligand for α, β, and γ retinoic acid and retinoid X receptors. The aldehyde derivate of VA, 11-cis-retinal, serves as a chromophore in the photoreceptor cells of the retina. The photoisomerization of 11-cis-retinal to all-trans-retinal activates a signaling cascade that results in the perception of light in vertebrates. Consequently, one of the clinical manifestations of vitamin A…

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