vitamins

Vitamin A: uses and benefits

Nutrition / /

{vision, gene expression, reproduction, embryonic development, growth, immune function} What is Vitamin A?   Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin obtained through diet. It includes retinol, retinyl palmitate, and beta-carotene. There are two forms: Preformed vitamin A (retinol and retinyl ester) is derived from animal sources such as meat, dairy products, and fish. Provitamin A (beta-carotenoid) is derived from colorful fruits and vegetables. Required for: cell growth immune function Eye health fetal development skin health response to inflammation Helps reduce oxidative stress protection against disease male and female re-productivity Toxicity Toxicity can occur because of the long half-life of Vitamin A in the body. Toxicity symptoms include dry skin, headaches, anorexia, nausea, bone pain, and cerebral edema. Toxicity occurs when a very high dose of Vitamin A has been taken. Therefore you should always consult with your health care provider before taking Vitamin A supplementation for correct dosage.   Deficiency symptoms: night blindness xerophthalmia (dry eyes) severely reduced immune competence delayed growth inflamed skin infertility and trouble conceiving respiratory infections slow wound healing Good Food sources Food sources include: sweet potato, spinach, pumpkin and carrots, squash, watermelon, asparagus and broccoli amongst others. DNA TESTING: The DNA Health Skin and DNA Core tests will tell you how well your body metabolises Vitamin A Sources: McEldrew EP, Lopez MJ, Milstein H. Vitamin A. [Updated 2023 Jul 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482362/ Debelo H, Novotny JA, Ferruzzi MG. Vitamin A. Adv Nutr. 2017 Nov 15;8(6):992-994. doi: 10.3945/an.116.014720. PMID: 29141980; PMCID: PMC5683001. Cite this Page Institute of Medicine (US) Panel on Micronutrients. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2001. 4, Vitamin A. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222318/

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Vitamin C uses and benefits

Genetic Testing, Nutrition / /

{immune health, antioxidant, increases oxytocin release , collagen and more} What is Vitamin C? Vitamin D is an essential water soluble vitamin. Essential meaning your body can’t produce it. You need to obtain it through food and/or supplements. The name for Vitamin C is ascorbic acid. It is essential for collagen, carnitine and neurotransmitters biosynthesis. Ascorbic acid is easily absorbed but not stored in the body. It has to regularly supplemented through diet or tablets to maintain the ascorbic acid pool in the body. It is absorbed by the small intestine by means of active transport and simple diffusion. Vitamin C is widely distributed in all the body tissues. Its level is high in adrenal gland, pituitary gland, and retina. Its level decreases in kidneys and muscles. Whatever the body doesn’t use, is extrected via urine.   Required for: collagen formation carnitine biosynthesis catecholamine synthesis producing dopamine transforming cholesterol into bile acids inhibiting nitrosamine formation in the stomach. enhancing the absorption of iron preventing scurvy immune system defense wound repair and healing oxidation At risk of deficiency: the elderly smokers Taking medications such as aspirin, indomethacin, oral contraceptives, tetracyclines, and corticosteroids. Those who have renal failure due to filtration of water-soluble vitamin C during dialysis conditions like gingivitis, asthma, glaucoma, collagen disorders, heatstroke, arthritis, infections Deficiency signs: easy bruising fatigue and low mood keratosis pilaris (chicken skin) coiled/corkscrew body hairs spoon-shaped fingernails slow healing of wounds painful joints weak bones bleeding gums and tooth loss weak immune system iron deficiency anemia Did you know? Vitamin C acts a cofactor for oxytocin. It helps stimulate the secretion of oxytocin from the pituitary gland into your bloodstream. Oxytocin is what helps us feel affection and love. According to one study, Vitamin C supplementation effectively increased work motivation and attentional focus and contributed to better performance on cognitive tasks requiring sustained attention. DNA TESTING: he DNA Health Skin and DNA Core tests will tell you how well your body metabolises Vitamin C and the genetic variants you carry that use Vit C in oxidation, and collagen formation. Sources: https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2891-2-7 PMC4959991/ PMC8783887/ PMC6071228/  

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