Vitamin A ( retinol )

Vitamin A is found in 1913 by Mc . Collum and Davis . Vitamin A is an antioxidant vitamins are fat-soluble and is important for vision and bone growth . Widely vitamin A itself is one type of active vitamins and fat soluble and is stored in the liver . Vitamin A comes in two forms , namely : pre - form of vitamin A and Pro - Vitamin A. Vitamin A pre - form is divided into three , namely : retinol , retinal , and retinoic acid . While known as provitamin A beta- carotene . Meanwhile, according to the WHO definition of vitamin A is one type of fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in the formation of good vision systems . There are several compounds that are classified into the group of vitamin A , such as retinol , retinyl palmitate , and retinyl acetate . However , the term often refers to vitamin A retinol compounds compared with other compounds because these compounds are the most active role in the body .

1. Structure of Vitamin A 1.1. provitamin A Vitamin A found in plants in the form of a precursor (provitamin). Provitamin A consists of , , and -carotene. - carotene is a yellow pigment and a type of antioxidant that plays an important role in reducing free radical chain reactions in the network. Chemical structure of -carotene is shown in Figure 2.1.

Gambar 2.1. Struktur kimia karoten

1.2. . Chemical structure of Vitamin A Vitamin A consists of 3 active biomolecules, namely retinol, retinal (retinaldehyde) and retinoic acid (Figure 2.2)

Figure 2.2. Three of biomolecul activef vitamin A

For retinal itself there are two forms, namely:

2 . Sources and Properties of Vitamin A a. Properties of Vitamin A 1. Plants do not synthesize vitamin A , but humans and animals have enzymes in the intestinal mucosa that could change the provitamin A carotenoids into vitamin A. 2. Retinol and retinal easily destroyed by oxidation , especially in hot and humid circumstances and when dealing with micro minerals or fats / oils are rancid . Retinol is not going to change in the dark , so that it can be stored in the form of ampoules , in a dark place , at temperatures below zero . Retinol is also difficult to change , if stored in a tightly closed , let alone provided a suitable antioxidant . Vitamins in the form of acetate or palmitate esters are more stable than the form of alcohol and aldehyde . 3. In practice , especially in storage , vitamin A is unstable . In order to create stability , then steps can be taken , ie chemically , with the addition of antioxidants and mechanically by

coating droplets of vitamin A with a stable fat , gelatin or wax , so it is a small granules . Through these techniques , the majority of vitamin A can be protected from direct contact with oxygen .

b. Source of Vitamin A Vitamin A is contained in fish oil. Vitamin A1 (retinol), are found mainly in the liver, especially fish. Vitamin A2 (retinol) or 3-retinol dehydrogenase, contained mainly in the liver of freshwater fish. Vitamin A derived from fish oil, largely in the form of esters. Vitamin A is also contained in the food, such as butter (milk fat), egg yolks, cheese, liver, forage and carrots. The green color of plants is a good indicator of the high levels of carotene. Fruits are red and yellow, such as red peppers, carrots, bananas, papaya, many contain pro-vitamin A, -carotene. For food, usually vitamin A found in foods that have been fortified (added nutritional value).

3 . Functions of Vitamin A a) Vitamin A for growth . Vitamin A is an essential compound that creates the body's resistance to infection and maintaining epithelial tissues in order to function properly . As the epithelial tissue of the eyes , respiratory apparatus , digestive tract , reproductive organs , nerves and bladder exhaust system . b) As a helper immune or immune system , vitamin A may help lymphocytes a type of white blood cells to be active against a variety of foreign matter into the body . c) Vitamin A also functions in counteracting free radicals . Vitamin A is an antioxidant that can protect cells from free radicals . So as to prevent chronic diseases of various kinds . That can be consumed on a daily basis . d) Vitamin A also functions to form bones and teeth . Many physical disability that affects bone experienced by children due to lack of vitamin A consumed since childhood . So it is essential to consume vitamin A since childhood in order to optimize the growth of the body . e) Not many people know it turns out vitamin A also supports the process of reproduction in humans . Especially for men . For the formation of sperm cells then Vitamin A steroid hormone encourages productivity . So the problem of the couple in achieving offspring can be overcome .

4 . Deficiency of vitamin A

a. damage to the eye People who are malnourished so their vitamin A are not fulfilled , usually show symptoms of night blindness . In the afternoon these people can not see clearly , so often hit anything while being berjalan. If the condition is severe , blindness develop into xerophthalmia which the eyes become sensitive to light , and tear glands stop functioning so that the eyeball to dry . In the cornea also found white spots , and a little late xerophthalmia addressed will turn out to be blindness . Vitamin A plays a role in the synthesis of stereoisomers of retinal called retinen , which combines with proteins to form a prosthetic group called " visual purple " , which is better known as rhodopsin . So it is necessary to synthesize vitamin A rhodopsin , which is always broken or damaged by the process fotokimiawi as one of the physiological processes in the system notice . If vitamin A at a time lacking in the body , the synthesis of " visual purple " would be disturbed , resulting in the abnormalities seen . Vitamin A plays a role in many body processes , among others, the stereoisomer of retinal called retinen , plays an important role in vision .

b. mucosal damage But in addition there is damage to the eye signs of vitamin A deficiency Another often overlooked, namely changes in the mucous membranes in the mouth, throat, respiratory and urinary tract. These membranes will be dry and stalled growth. In fact, mucous membranes bergungsi fort sebegai one body against various diseases. Damage to the mucous membrane makes the body more susceptible to germs, bacteria or viruses that cause colds to respiratory infections and measles, which can decrease the immune system.

c. Other vitamin A deficiency Vitamin A deficiency results in bone destruction and tooth formation. Even as a whole, the process of growth becomes sluggish. It also causes inflammation of the skin (dermatitis), and disorders of the reproductive system

5. HyperVitamin A Hypervitamin A can be just as dangerous as lack of vitamin A. Therefore, these vitamins are only soluble in fat, so that the excess in the body are not wasted but stored in the

liver so that liver vitamin A congested resulting in increased severity of the liver. When vitamin A continuous overlapping, long time to reach the doses toxic to the body. Symptoms of hyperviitamin A in the form of vomiting, dizziness and hair becomes coarse, redness, and loss. Hypervitamin A will make your skin dry and flaky, blurry eyes widened, and bone pain. People who are most vitamin A also nudah drowsiness and fatigue affected. In baby and children,hypervitamin A makes the liver swelling, jaundice and enlargement of the baby's skin and head. Children will experience failure in the growth process, skittish and irritable. In early pregnancy , women are also prohibited from consuming excessive vitamin A , because it has been proven to result in miscarriage or fetal damage . Overdose occurs when someone is constantly taking 75000-500000 IU of vitamin A daily for two months or more . An overdose of vitamins A more common because most consume high -dose vitamin A capsules . Being on vegetables and fruit harbor , where vitamin A is in the form of pro vitamin A ( called carotene , which is a new yellow pigment is converted into vitamin A in the body ) , has yet to be found when excessive toxic in the body . However , it could be a blood plasma containing high doses carotenoids causes the skin to become yellowish . It was then known as karotemia .

6 . The appropriate dose Requirement of vitamin A can be measured in international units (IU). Requirement of vitamin A for an adult male approximately 5000 IU, 4000 IU of adult women and children around children 2000-3300 IU. Treatment should be careful because vitamin A is easily lost prolonged exposure to heat, light or air.