Nutrients

Vitamin A: Would You Change if You Knew?

26. Mai 2019 4 min read

Vitamin A functions as a hormone in the body and plays a crucial role in immune function, skin protection, and cellular differentiation—yet many people don't meet their daily needs.

Vitamin A: Would You Change if You Knew?

We all agree on one thing: hormones are arguably the most powerful tool of all higher living beings. Hormones have always directed the fundamental behavior of every species.

This can be beautifully illustrated by a song from folk singer Funny van Dannen. The song "Hypothyroidism" ... is funny! Funny, that is, unless you're the one right in the middle of it and know nothing of your "luck."

At this moment, I'm considering which verse of the text I should quote so as not to attack anyone personally! Let me try this:

"I often sat in school and felt completely exhausted. And because I couldn't think for myself, I just copied. I was always so lacking in drive, even as a little boy. Today I finally know the reason: hypothyroidism."

The genius of the song is that it essentially shows directly what hormones can do not just to everyday life or a person's psyche, but even influence entire life philosophies and concepts. As I said, I don't want to offend anyone, so just listen to it yourself.

Long story short: don't mess with hormones!

We could continue with other hormones at this point. How about testosterone? Also a tricky subject. Everyone should have experienced it ... from "low" to "high."

A better topic: growth hormone at night. When too little is secreted or it doesn't work properly (insulin resistance ;-)), we don't wake up refreshed. Even more: it makes you depressed! Of course: where would the energy come from? If the body can't reset at night.

So, hormones. For years now we've been discussing the importance of vitamin D, which isn't actually a vitamin but a hormone. In any case, it becomes a hormone in the body. A boring topic by now, it's in practically every medicine cabinet (hopefully).

A similar topic is vitamin A. In the body, it also becomes a hormone—retinoic acid. At this point, I'd like to return to the opening words: would you change if you knew? I mean people, our fellow humans.

Because of course I often think about the diets of other people and wonder, for example, whether they manage to cover their daily requirement of vitamin A at all. Everyone can do the math themselves.

It was recently discovered that a protein protecting the skin with antibacterial effects called RELMα needs vitamin A to function [source no longer available]. In other words: too little vitamin A in food ... less protection against bacteria.
There are certain immune cells, so-called myeloid suppressor cells—these are "immature" immune cells that suppress the immune response. Researchers have found that skin tumors (melanoma) accumulate these cells around themselves [source no longer available] so the immune system doesn't attack the tumor. The same researchers discovered that these suppressor cells can be turned into active immune cells—through retinoic acid. Of course: that's the fundamental job of vitamin A in the body. To turn "child cells" into mature, competent adult cells (differentiation). The result is that the immune system is no longer suppressed by these suppressor cells, and therefore the probability increases that it will fight the tumor.
Another study found [source no longer available] that vitamin A availability in the body directly determines how many blood stem cells circulate in the body. With too little vitamin A, the stem cells are converted to normal cells and ... they're gone. No longer there if something needs to be renewed.

And so on. Would people change something if they knew that vitamin A essentially becomes a hormone? And ... that it's best not to mess with hormones? Neither with too much in mind—but especially with too little.

That's why we talk from time to time about the liver. Packed with vitamin A among other things. I'm sure the liver will have a little boom. If there are aversions to it, you could try carrot juice. But you should definitely access at least one valuable source of vitamin A. Anything else is reckless!

Oh yes, about vitamin A and especially many other hormones and ways to modulate hormone levels, we naturally talk about this in our [source no longer available]. It's worth it, really!

Vitamin A: Would You Change if You Knew?

We all agree on one thing: hormones are arguably the most powerful tool of all higher living beings. Hormones have always directed the fundamental behavior of every species.

At this moment, I'm considering which verse of the text I should quote so as not to attack anyone personally! Let me try this:

Long story short: don't mess with hormones!

We could continue with other hormones at this point. How about testosterone? Also a tricky subject. Everyone should have experienced it ... from "low" to "high."

Because of course I often think about the diets of other people and wonder, for example, whether they manage to cover their daily requirement of vitamin A at all. Everyone can do the math themselves.

It was recently discovered that a protein protecting the skin with antibacterial effects called RELMα needs vitamin A to function [source no longer available]. In other words: too little vitamin A in food ... less protection against bacteria.

There are certain immune cells, so-called myeloid suppressor cells—these are "immature" immune cells that suppress the immune response. Researchers have found that skin tumors (melanoma) accumulate these cells around themselves [source no longer available] so the immune system doesn't attack the tumor. The same researchers discovered that these suppressor cells can be turned into active immune cells—through retinoic acid. Of course: that's the fundamental job of vitamin A in the body. To turn "child cells" into mature, competent adult cells (differentiation). The result is that the immune system is no longer suppressed by these suppressor cells, and therefore the probability increases that it will fight the tumor.

Another study found [source no longer available] that vitamin A availability in the body directly determines how many blood stem cells circulate in the body. With too little vitamin A, the stem cells are converted to normal cells and ... they're gone. No longer there if something needs to be renewed.

Oh yes, about vitamin A and especially many other hormones and ways to modulate hormone levels, we naturally talk about this in our [source no longer available]. It's worth it, really!

Vitamin A: Would You Change if You Knew?

Read next

Your cart is empty

Vitamin A: Would You Change if You Knew?