Vitamin A

Also known as retinol, vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin present in foods of both animal and plant-based origin in various active forms, including retinaldehyde, essential for eyesight, and retinoic acid, indispensable for growth starting as early as the embryonic stage. Retinol and retinoids, i.e. derivatives of retinol, come from foods of animal origin, while carotenoids – also known as provitamin A – are from plant-based sources. Large amounts are found in raw carrots, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, Savoy cabbage, garlic, wheat germ oil, parsley, dandelion, watercress, pumpkin, fresh spinach, chicory, tomato, lettuce, and in general in all yellow-orange vegetables. Good fruit sources of Vitamin A are melon, apricot, peach, orange and watermelon.