Although your body produces many of its own proteins and enzymes to assist with its daily procedures, there are several essential vitamins and minerals that it is not able to produce on its own. Instead, these micronutrients must come from your diet, whether in the form of food or supplements. Each vitamin and mineral plays its own special role within the body, supporting various systems and promoting the health of cells. Some of the most important of these nutrients include the B complex vitamins, vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, and selenium. In this article, we will focus on vitamin A, its unique function in the human body, and any potential health benefits associated with it.

Vitamin A, which actually refers to a group of vitamins including retinol, retinal, and retinyl esters, has a hand in various essential processes that occur throughout the body. As many vitamins do, it helps to boost your immune system in defense against infection and assists in cell growth, especially for fetal development and the reproductive system (1). However, probably the most notable contribution made by vitamin A is its role in eye health and good vision. Vitamin A is one of the elements needed in order for your eyes to be able to see color and in low-light. In terms of the eyes themselves, this important nutrient helps protect different parts of the eye, including the cornea (the outermost part of the eye) and the conjunctiva (a membrane covering the surface of the eye) (2). Healthy amounts of vitamin A are a necessary part of maintaining the health of these parts as well as normal vision.

Vitamin A is in the fat-soluble category of vitamins, meaning that, unlike water-soluble vitamins which are not stored in the body, any excess vitamin A that is not immediately used is stored in the liver. There are two forms of vitamin A, one found in animal products and one in plants. Animal products, like liver, egg yolks, and milk, contain retinol, the active form of vitamin A which is ready to be used by the body right away. Plant sources such as dark leafy greens, mangoes, papayas, carrots, and sweet potatoes, contain carotenoids, the inactive form which must first be converted to retinol during digestion (3). You can also retrieve your daily amount of this nutrient from a vitamin A supplement, which will usually have provitamin A, or beta carotene, in its formula. 

If you are considering supplementing your diet, one of the best ways to do so is with a liquid vitamin A supplement. Available in the form of a more varied multivitamin or individual liquid vitamin A drops, you can typically count on supplements for all the vitamin A benefits you need without the added stress of extra meal planning. The best vitamin A supplement should contain the daily recommended amount of vitamin A without exceeding that amount too much, as excess can build up in the body’s fatty tissue over time. Read on to learn more about some of the health benefits that vitamin A can provide for your body.

Vitamin A Drops Benefits

Vitamin A drops benefits encompass a wide range of bodily functions, from skin health (which will be discussed in more detail in the next section) to protecting the eyes and boosting the immune system. Most people choosing to take a vitamin A supplement specifically are likely those who suffer from a vitamin A deficiency or who believe they are not receiving enough of the vitamin from their usual diet. Since this nutrient is a key component of the conversion of light signals from your eye into electrical signals for your brain, deficiency can have a profound effect on vision in particular, often resulting in night blindness (4). Vitamin A drops for eyes and overall vision health help combat these symptoms of vitamin A deficiency. 

Taking a vitamin A supplement may potentially reduce the effects of aging on eyes and vision as well. It’s a relatively well-known fact that eyesight typically begins to decline as you age. One particular study showed that individuals over 50 who experienced a decline in eyesight could reduce their risk of developing a more advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by taking antioxidant supplements containing vitamin A (5). Other studies have found that vitamin A supplements on their own may not be able to counteract these effects of AMD, but adequate amounts of vitamin A are certainly very important to eye health for all ages.

Vitamin A Benefits For Skin

Another of the most important roles that vitamin A plays in the body is the maintenance of surface tissues, especially in the bladder, lungs, reproductive system, and, of course, skin. Since it is essential for the healthy growth of these tissues, the vitamin A benefits for skin are numerous. In fact, skin is a retinoid-responsive organ, meaning that vitamin A stimulates the production of new skin cells and helps encourage natural moisturization, even when applied topically (6). A topical vitamin A supplement for skin may take the form of a lotion or cream, but you can also apply vitamin A drops for skin directly to the surface to be absorbed.

If you have ever suffered from acne and perused the over-the-counter acne treatments at the pharmacy, you have likely come across some form of retinoid before. Retinoids contain vitamin A for skin acne and can be obtained via a prescription for higher strength formulas. With anti-inflammatory properties as well, these formulas are typically considered to be quite effective for treatment and control of acne, especially for those who also experience clogged pores. 

Intranasal Vitamin A Drops

You may have heard on the news recently about research being performed to determine whether or not nasal vitamin A drops can be an effective treatment for loss of smell. This is particularly prudent in light of the pandemic, with lost or depleted sense of smell being one of the common symptoms of COVID-19. As we mentioned above, vitamin A plays an important role in the maintenance of surface tissues throughout your body, including the nose. According to previous research done in Germany, vitamin A could have the potential to repair tissues in the nose damaged by viruses. So, in late September 2021, a group of researchers from the UK proposed a trial to test if vitamin A nasal drops for loss of smell would be able to counteract the loss of smell caused by COVID (7). As of January 2021, the trial has not yet finished, so the results of this hypothesis are still unsure.

Despite the lack of conclusive proof, those searching for a home remedy to their nasal issues may be wondering a few things: “Can I put vitamin A drops in my nose? Where can I buy vitamin A nasal drops? Are intranasal vitamin A drops effective?” Typically, you can find all kinds of nasal drops at your local pharmacy, including those centered specifically around vitamin A. However, before using a retinoic acid nasal spray, you should consult with your physician to make sure it’s the best option for you, especially if you are seeking to reinstate your sense of smell after losing it as a result of COVID-19. 

Best Vitamin A Eye Drops

According to the National Eye Institute, over 16 million Americans suffer from dry eyes (8). There are countless over-the-counter and prescription eye drops available to help counteract this uncomfortable condition, including some of the best vitamin A eye drops. In fact, a clinical trial found that vitamin A eye drops for dry eyes were just as effective as prescription eye drops for relieving the symptoms of dry eye (9). Vitamin A eye drops side effects should be minimal, but remember to follow the instructions in order to avoid applying too much. If redness or irritation occurs when using any kind of eye drops, you should seek help from a medical professional.

The vitamin A for eyes dosage may vary depending on the type of drops you choose, the brand, and the intent of their use. However, you should typically avoid supplements that contain excessive amounts of any vitamin, especially fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K, since they are stored in the liver and can build up over time. As always, consult with your physician or optometrist to determine the best supplements or eye drops for your unique situation. 

If eye drops and nasal sprays aren’t exactly your style, you may want to consider making sure your body receives its essential nutrients in the form of a multivitamin instead. Liquid multivitamins like Better Family’s Liquid Daily provide convenient and fast absorption of various micronutrients. Along with your daily dose of vitamin A, our diverse blend includes B complex vitamins along with vitamins D, E, and K, as well as important minerals like zinc, iodine, chromium, and selenium. This all-in-one liquid solution can be consumed sublingually and is more concentrated than other liquid multivitamins, making it the standout choice among competitors for fast absorption of only the highest quality micronutrients. Both safe and effective, our Liquid Daily Multivitamin is a great choice for any household and can be given to family members of all ages.

Resources

1. “Vitamin A.” University of Rochester Medical Center, 2022, https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=19&contentid=vitamina.
2. Kubala, Jillian. “Vitamin A: Benefits, Deficiency, Toxicity and More.” healthline, 4 October 2018, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-a.
3. Gilbert, Clare. “What is vitamin A and why do we need it?” Community Eye Health Journal, 2013, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3936685.
4. West, Helen. “6 Health Benefits of Vitamin A, Backed by Science.” healthline, 23 August 2018, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-a-benefits.
5. Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group. “A randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of high-dose supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta carotene, and zinc for age-related macular degeneration and vision loss: AREDS report no. 8.” Archives of Ophthalmology, October 2001, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11594942.
6. Whelan, Corey. “The Benefits and Limits of Vitamin A for Your Skin.” healthline, 20 August 2018, https://www.healthline.com/health/vitamin-a-for-skin.
7. “Could vitamin A bring back sense of smell after Covid?” James Paget University Hospitals, 29 September 2021, https://www.jpaget.nhs.uk/education-research/research-development/research-news/2021/september/could-vitamin-a-bring-back-sense-of-smell-after-covid.
8. “Dry Eye.” National Eye Institute, 22 December 2020, https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/dry-eye.
9. Kim, Eun Chul et al. “A comparison of vitamin a and cyclosporine a 0.05% eye drops for treatment of dry eye syndrome.” American Journal of Ophthalmology, February 2009, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18848318.