Vitamin A and Beta Carotene

[AquaGrl08]

What's the difference between Vitamin A and Beta Carotene? and how long the beta carotene can be taken in a pill form?

[AquaGrl08]

Thank you for giving me such a great input about Vitamin A & Beta-carotene! very very useful!.
Happy underwater trails buddy!

[deepdiver]

Vitamin A
Helps Maintain Cell Membranes and Promote Normal Vision.
Vitamin A is an important nutrient in maintaining cell membrane integrity. It also plays an important role in proper bone formation, reproduction and vision.

Vitamin A comes in two forms, either as preformed vitamin A or as one of a range of provitamins called carotenoids. Beta-carotene is the most well-known of these carotenoids, which actually convert themselves into vitamin A once digested. Preformed Vitamin A is found in fats (butter and margarine), whereas beta-carotene is found in fruit and vegetables, especially brightly coloured ones like tomatoes, peppers and oranges.

Vitamin A is needed for growth and maintenance of healthy skin. It also helps us to see in dim light, so prolonged deficiency can cause night blindness. Beta-carotene has antioxidant properties which can protect us against developing heart disease and some cancers.

Vitamin A is stored in the liver, thus taking large doses of the vitamin will accumulate in this organ and can be poisonous. High levels of the vitamin is also linked to an increase risk of some birth defects, which is why women who are pregnant, or might become pregnant are advised not to take vitamin A supplements or to eat liver or liver containing products. There is also evidence to suggest that taking beta-carotene supplements can increase the risk of cancer, particularly among smokers.

Warnings
Women who are pregnant or likely to become pregnant should not use this product. The recommended daily serving contains more than 10,000 IU of Vitamin A from retinol, which in high amounts is known to cause birth defects.

Beta-carotene
Protects Against Cellular Damage.
Supports cardiovascular and immune system health. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant and a vitamin A precursor. It is converted to vitamin A in the body and helps protect against cellular damage.