What is the connection between vitamin A and beta carotene?

Vitamin A is a general term for a group of related substances that can use the human body for good health. Beta carotene is a specific molecule in a group of molecules called carotenoids, some of which can be converted to one type of vitamin and body. Beta carotene source is based on plants, while pre -created vitamin A comes only from animal sources.

Beta Caroten is only one of the different molecules that can be converted into vitamin A. The other molecules present in the average western diet are alpha carotene and beta-kryptoxanthin and all of them fall into the group of molecules called carotenoids. Carotenoids are pigments, which means they give color to the plant in which they grow. Carotenoids in food only come from plants, so vitamin A and beta carotene play a role in ingestion and absorption of plant nutrients, and not animal nutrients.

Once the body receives beta carotene, it must change it to turn it into vitamin A. makes it one of two ways, either chopping beta carotentertained molecule in the middle of the chain, or cut it off from the outside. The process includes an enzyme called beta-carotene dioxygenase and a specific product of this vitamin A and beta carotene is called retinol. Retinol is only one form of vitamin A and others can be made of other types of vitamin and raw materials such as other carotenoids.

Storage of this product of the carotene process of vitamin A and beta occurs in the liver. This has the consequences for potential animal sources of vitamin A because the liver of some predators, such as polar bears or fish, may contain high levels of vitamin A. If there is too much pre -created vitamin and human disease, the disease may be sick.

However, if one eats high beta carotene levels, poisoning usually does not occur, because the body makes enough vitamin A, as it needs, and simply stores beta carotene in its original form. When the body needs more vitamin A, it causes beta carotene stored in the body fat. Too much beta carotene can skinWeathered, but it seems to be a relatively harmless state. Conversely, too little vitamin A can cause developmental problems in children, lead to blindness and increase the risk of dangerous infections.