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Functions

The body needs vitamin A for:

• healthy eyesight
• healthy skin
• healthy immune system
• normal growth and development
• antioxidant properties, helping protect the body from cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD)
• healthy development of a foetus in the womb

Sources

There are two types of vitamin A – retinol and beta-carotene.

Retinol is the name for sources of vitamin A which come from animals, while beta-carotene is the name for sources of vitamin A from plant origin.

• liver
• oily fish
• eggs
• cheese
• whole milk
• butter and fortified margarine

• carrots
• fruits that are orange in colour – for example, oranges and peaches
• green leafy vegetables – for example, Brussels sprouts