Vitamin A

Vitamin A provides support to many systems in the body and having too much or too little in the body can negatively affect our health. Vitamin A deficiency is rare in the UK and is often a result of malnutrition. Deficiency is more common in developing countries where the diet may be limited. The symptoms of vitamin A deficiency often affect surface tissues and linings.

Equally, vitamin A toxicity can also be harmful and occurs when too much of the micronutrient is ingested, especially in individuals who use supplements. [3]

If you are worried about your vitamin A level or just want to check where you fall on the range, you can test your vitamin A with Forth’s leading blood test service.

You should be able to ensure a healthy intake of vitamin A by consuming a healthy, balanced diet which incorporates some vitamin A rich sources. If you do this, there should be no need to supplement your intake which will help to reduce the risk of toxicity.

There are two sources of vitamin A, plant and animal.

Plant sources include:

• carrots
• cantaloupe melon
• tomatoes
• mango
• sweet potato
• red peppers
• peas
• spinach

Animal sources are:

• liver
• egg yolk
• milk
• fish

Try not to overcook these sources, if possible, as this can decrease their nutrient content including vitamin A. If you are pregnant you should speak with your GP about how much vitamin A you need and which sources you should be getting it from.

Exercise is vital for a healthy lifestyle, too. Everyone should aim to complete at least 150 minutes of aerobic every week and this should be completed over a period of five days. Aerobic exercise includes activities like walking, jogging, swimming and cycling. Exercise is also widely beneficial for the normal function of our gut. Physical activity benefits the gut environment as well as the diversity of gut microbes.[5] Therefore, exercise is important for our health and can aid the normal functioning of the body, including the digestive system.