For a long time, the best minds of mankind have studied the ability of food products to heal certain human diseases. It is known from ancient Egyptian medical treatises that the priests of the greatest civilization in the world possessed the secret of treating night blindness (impaired vision at dusk) with the help of the liver of animals and fish, not knowing what vitamin A is.
In butter, sour cream, egg yolk and other products, this unique substance will be found much later.
A bit of history…
At the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, active work began on the study of special, vital elements and compounds that help maintain he alth and prolong human life. Among the researchers were the Russian biochemist N. I. Lunin, the Dutch bacteriologist Christian Eikman, the English biochemist Frederick Hopkins, and many other Russian and foreign scientists. In 1911, for the first time, the Polish researcher Kazimir Funk found a cure for the severe nervous disease beriberi, which occurs against the background of vitamin B1 deficiency. Crystals isolated from rice bran, he called "Vitamin"or Vitamine. Translated from lat. vita - means "life", and from English. mine - "amine", which made it possible 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 Marguerite Davis, and the second - Thomas Osborne and colleagues) extracted from butter and chicken yolk a substance that does not dissolve in water, but perfectly behaves in lipids. It was called "fat-soluble factor A", renaming Funk's famous "vitamin" to "water-soluble factor B". Thus was created the basis of the science of vitamins - vitaminology, the "pioneer" of which was retinol.
The 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, helps to strengthen the barrier and other functions of cell and intracellular membranes.
For musculoskeletalapparatus, skin and hair
Vitamin A is necessary for the formation of bone tissue, including teeth, for 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 is great for treating 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, skin hyperpigmentation, dryness and brittleness of the nail plates, alopecia, and other growth disorders keratin fibers, as well as graying hair.
For eye he alth
The beneficial effect of vitamin A on visual acuity, photoreception, the normalization of the activity of the visual analyzer, as well as the perception of light by our eyes has long been known. The pigments contained in beta-carotene easily penetrate the retina, protecting it from the risk of cataracts and degenerative changes in the macula.
To protect against infections
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 complex therapy of infectious diseases. Retinol not only maintains and restores the structure of epithelial tissues and mucous membranes, but also increases their barrier function. Thus, it has a beneficial effect on worklungs and well complements the treatment of peptic ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract and colitis.
Vitamin A can protect against infection or significantly alleviate colds, flu, diseases of the respiratory or urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, and 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 complex treatment of cancer, prevents the recurrence of the disease after surgery. Fragments of vitamin A molecules (citral, cichol) 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 in the muscles, increasing the vitality of a person. Vitamin A enhances the concentration of essential cholesterol in the blood, has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the endocrine system and endocrine glands.
Foods are sources of vitamin A
The leaders in the content of vitamin A are animal products, from where the human body receives them in the form of retinoids. Cod liver oil and fish oil are top favorites on this list.
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 A, D, E and K in butter 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 a third of a person's daily requirement for retinol. But butter is too high in calories, so 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 molecules of retinol. Carotenoids are rich in vegetables, fruits, herbs and berries of bright, “traffic light” shades: carrots, pumpkin, apricots, spinach, peaches, broccoli, grapes, celery and parsley, sage, oats, nettle, burdock root, mint and others.
What is the cost of this miracle 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. Cosmetic foreign preparations with the addition of this unique component are distinguished by a higher price - from 1500 to 2000 rubles.
How to use vitamin A in oil?
The most common form of retinol use isretinol acetate or retinol palmitate in oil or capsules. The convenience of capsules is due to the dosed amount 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 subject to rapid oxidation when 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 nourishing the body, 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 medications. Therefore, a doctor's consultation before ingesting vitamin A is required!
Vitamin A in cosmetology
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of retinol for the beauty and he alth 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, returns it to a radiant he althy look, and hair - elasticity, resilience and natural shine.
Vitamin A in oil for the skin is a precious gift of Nature that nourishes and moisturizes it. Cosmetology widely uses retinol in anti-aging procedures: forsmoothing fine wrinkles, strengthening skin turgor, hyperpigmentation and other aesthetic imperfections.
At home, just a few drops of vitamin A in oil or Aevit in a regular mask (at the rate of 2-3 drops per 50 g of the mixture) will give your skin a well-groomed and he althy look.
Vitamin A in facial oil can be added to any mixture that does not contain acidic foods: lemon or lime juice, fermented milk drinks, acidic fruits or berries. In addition, a mask with retinol should not be heated too 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 if applied in the evening, before going to bed, as the process of regeneration of skin cells is activated at night.
Vitamin A in hair oil helps make hair soft and silky.
If in 20-40 ml (depending on the length of the keratin rods) of 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 your 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, he althy natural shine and amazing beauty.
Vitamin A in oil is a unique "elixir" that is ideal for healing, strengthening and rejuvenating the body. Combined with vitamins C, E and D, zinc, fluoride, calcium and iron, itmuch better absorbed and brings maximum benefit to the person.
