From time immemorial, the best minds of mankind have studied the ability of food products to heal certain human diseases. From ancient Egyptian medical treatises it is known that the priests of the greatest civilization of the world possessed the secret treatment of night blindness (visual impairment at dusk) using the liver of animals and fish, not knowing what vitamin A.
In butter, sour cream, egg yolk and in other products, this unique substance will be found much later.
A bit of history ...
At the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, active work began on the study of special, vital elements and compounds that help to maintain health and prolong human life. Among the researchers were the Russian biochemist NI Lunin, the Dutch bacteriologist Christian Eikman, the English biochemist Frederick Hopkins and many other Russian and foreign scientists. In 1911, for the first time, a Polish researcher, Casimir Funk, found a cure for severe nervous illness of beriberi, arising from a deficiency of vitamin B1. Crystals isolated from rice bran, he called "Vitamine" or Vitamine. Translated from lat. vita - means "life", and from the English. mine - “amine”, which allowed us to classify this drug as a nitrogen-containing compound. The scientist also suggested that many ailments arise due to a lack of certain substances in the body. This marked the beginning of an era of discovery, the first of which was the production of vitamin A or retinol.
In 1913, two independent groups of scientists (the first included Elmer Werner McCollum and Margarita Davis, and the second Thomas Osborne and colleagues) extracted a substance insoluble in water from butter and chicken yolk, but it behaved very well in lipids. It was called "fat-soluble factor A", renaming the well-known "vitamin" Funk into "water-soluble factor B". Thus, the basis of the science of vitamins - vitaminology, was created, the retinol of which became retina.
Unique Benefits of Vitamin A
Retinol Acetate, or Vitamin A in Oil, is a drug that is easy to find in every pharmacy. It has a truly miraculous effect on the human body.
This vital component, being an antioxidant, is involved in all redox reactions, reliably protecting our body from the negative effects of free radicals. It also plays an important role in the processes of protein synthesis, normalizes metabolism, and strengthens the barrier and other functions of cell and intracellular membranes.
For the musculoskeletal system, skin and hair
Vitamin A is necessary in the formation of bone tissue, including teeth, in the renewal of skin cells, hair, nails, it also significantly slows down the process of withering of the skin and aging of the body as a whole.
Retinol perfectly helps in the treatment of acne, improves the condition of patients with psoriasis, stimulates the production of substances that accelerate the healing of wounds and other injuries of the dermis. Vitamin A is prescribed for diseases of the skin, nails and hair: chronic dermatosis, xeroderma (dry skin), seborrheic eczema, neurodermatitis, urticaria, various types of lichen, hyperpigmentation of the skin, dry and fragile nail plates, alopecia, and other growth disorders keratin fibers, as well as when graying hair.
For eye health
The beneficial effects of vitamin A on visual acuity, photoreception, normalization of the activity of the visual analyzer, and also on the perception of light by our eyes have long been known. The pigments contained in beta-carotene easily penetrate the retina, protecting it from the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.
For infection protection
Vitamin A in oil, the use of which is necessary to normalize the functioning of the immune system, is prescribed by a doctor in the treatment of infectious diseases. Retinol not only supports and restores the structure of epithelial tissues and mucous membranes, but also increases their barrier function. Thus, it has a beneficial effect on lung function and well complements the treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers and colitis.
Vitamin A can protect against infection or significantly alleviate the condition with colds, flu, respiratory or urinary tract diseases, gastrointestinal tract, as well as viral diseases: measles, smallpox and even AIDS.
What else is retinol famous for?
Vitamin A in oil is widely used during pregnancy in combination with vitamin E to reduce the risk of complications and prevent the appearance of abnormalities in the development of the embryo.
Retinol stimulates the synthesis of steroid hormones, normalizes spermatogenesis and regulates thyroid function. Beta-carotene or provitamin A is a powerful antioxidant; it contributes to the prevention and comprehensive treatment of cancer, prevents the relapse of the disease after surgery. Fragments of vitamin A molecules (citral, chichol) are known for their antihistamine effect on humans.
In addition, retinol, accumulating in the liver, increases the level of glycogen in this organ, in the heart and muscles, increasing the vitality of a person. Vitamin A enhances the concentration of necessary cholesterol in the blood, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the endocrine system and endocrine glands.
Foods - Vitamin A Sources
The leaders in vitamin A content are animal products, from where the human body receives them in the form of retinoids. The main favorites of this list are cod liver and fish oil.
A lot of this useful substance is also found in the yolk of chicken and quail eggs, in cream, whole milk, cheese, offal, liver of animals and fish, sturgeon caviar, fermented milk products.
The fat-soluble vitamins in butter A, D, E and K are perfectly absorbed by the human body, as they are in an ideal environment. Only 50 g (although nutritionists recommend no more than 30 g) of this unique product covers one third of the daily human need for retinol. But butter is too high-calorie product, therefore, by limiting its consumption to a reasonable limit, you can make up for the deficiency of vitamin A from carotenoids. From a molecule of beta-carotene, or provitamin A, the human body is able to synthesize two retinol molecules. Carotenoids are rich in vegetables, fruits, herbs and berries of bright, “traffic light” colors: carrots, pumpkins, apricots, spinach, peaches, broccoli, grapes, celery and parsley, sage, oats, nettles, burdock root, mint and others.
What is the cost of this wonderful vitamin?
Today in the assortment of any pharmacy you can find the "elixir of youth" - vitamin A in oil, the price for which is mere pennies. The drug from Russian manufacturers is in capsules: for 10 pcs. - 7 rubles, for 30 pcs. - 25-40 rubles, and in bottles of 50 ml of retinol acetate costs 70-100 rubles. Foreign cosmetic products with the addition of this unique component are distinguished by a higher price - from 1,500 to 2,000 rubles.
How to apply vitamin A in oil?
The most common form of using retinol is retinol acetate or retinol palmitate in oil or capsules. The convenience of the capsules is due to the dosage of vitamin A, as well as the fact that the active substance does not come into contact with air due to the shell.
As you know, retinol is susceptible to rapid oxidation in contact with oxygen, which significantly reduces its effect. Often in pharmacies you can find the vitamin preparation “Aevit” - a “duet” of vitamins A and E, in which tocopherol, along with the body's nutrition, protects retinol from oxidation. For people suffering from various ailments, vitamin A in oil or Aevit is prescribed by a doctor. And for preventive purposes, doctors recommend: children take 0.5-1 mg, adults 1.5 mg, and pregnant women or nursing mothers 2.0-2.5 mg. This amount can be affected by both the level of physical activity and the use of certain foods and drugs. Therefore, a doctor’s consultation before taking vitamin A is mandatory!
Vitamin A in cosmetology
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of retinol for the beauty and health of the skin, the condition of nails and hair. Adding a few drops of an oil solution of retinol acetate or Aevit to a mask for the face, body or keratin fibers turns it into a real panacea that stops the aging process of the skin, restoring its radiant healthy appearance, and hair elasticity, elasticity and natural shine.
Vitamin A in skin oil is a precious gift from Nature that nourishes and moisturizes it. Cosmetology widely uses retinol in anti-aging procedures: to smooth fine wrinkles, strengthen skin turgor, with hyperpigmentation and other aesthetic deficiencies.
At home, just a few drops of vitamin A in oil or Aevit in the usual mask (at the rate of 2-3 drops per 50 g of the mixture) will give your skin a well-groomed and healthy look.
Vitamin A in face oil can be added to any mixture that does not contain acidic products: lemon or lime juice, sour-milk drinks, sour fruits or berries. In addition, a mask with retinol can not be heated very much, but it is better to add it to a warm mass. A wonderful anti-aging effect of masks with vitamin A can be obtained by applying them in the evening, before going to bed, since at night the process of regeneration of skin cells is activated.
Vitamin A in hair oil helps make them soft and silky.
If in 20-40 ml (depending on the length of keratin rods) burdock, olive, almond or
peach oil, add 7-15 ml of vitamins A and E, respectively, or 5-10 capsules of the Aevit preparation, stir the ingredients, apply them on the hair and then wrap your head with a compress and hold for an hour, then after a few procedures even weakened hair will delight you with its strength, healthy natural shine and amazing beauty.
Vitamin A in oil is a unique “elixir” that is ideal for treating, strengthening and rejuvenating the body. In combination with vitamins C, E and D, zinc, fluoride, calcium and iron, it is much better absorbed and brings maximum benefits to humans.