Implication of Vitamin A in Nutritional Anemia

Abstract

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble organic compound having nutritional value, and it exists in highly diversified forms like retinal, retinoic acid and retinol. Its widely available provitamin form is the carotenoids. Vitamin A has multiple roles. It is necessary for the normal growth and development, immunity development and acquisition of normal vision. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and its digestion, almost, resembles that of lipid digestion. Vitamin A affects and controls the erythropoiesis at different stages in human life. Retinoids regulate the development of haematovascular tissues in yolk sac stage and shape the foetal erythropoiesis. Vitamin A also controls cellular proliferation and differentiation of the haemopoietic stem cells. Vitamin A is engaged in the pathogenesis of anemia in children through varied mechanisms. The conclusive role of vitamin A in the cause of anemia is uncertain.