Vitamin A is a micronutrient that is widely known as a contributor to healthy eyesight and skin. In the context of our immune system, Vitamin A is shown to be highly important as well. Let us examine some of the ways in which it helps to keep our body healthy and disease free:
1. It is required for our body to keep it’s mucosal surfaces healthy. People with Vitamin A deficiency have shown issues with regeneration of damaged mucosal surfaces after and during sickness, leading to severe symptoms and sometimes death . Remember, mucous is a protectant along many of our body’s important pathways such as respiratory and urinary tracts. Vitamin A allows us to quickly build up and regenerate these surfaces, keeping as safe from many diseases, especially respiratory ones like COVID.
2. It plays a key role in adaptive immunity- Vitamin A is a key component in the creation of Helper T Cells which stimulate B Cells to create our antibodies, armies of cells which are trained to seek out antigens identical or similar to those the body had encountered before. These inclue Immunoglobin A, a type of antibody is also key to protecting our mucosal surfaces.
3. It also has promoting and regulatory roles in innate immunity- Vitamin A is needed for macrophages, phagocytes and lymphocytes to function optimally. Healthy skin and mucus is also the first barrier any pathogen will encounter. This means that our first line of defense against disease is also fueled by this important nutrient.
Vitamin A plays a key role in the entire immune process, allowing the body’s defenses to perform optimally. This means that it is highly important that we are able to take our daily amount through healthy food. We can easily get our daily intake through the consumption of leafy greens like Alugabti or Kulitis. Carrots, Eggs and Avocadoes are also good sources!
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