Importance of vitamin A/Function of vitamin A:

Vitamin A was the first fat-soluble vitamin identified in 1913). It performs the following functions

1. Vitamin A combines with a protein called opsin to form rhodopsin in the rod cells of the retina of the eye. When vitamin A is inadequate, the lack of rhodopsin makes it difficult to see in dim light.
2. It is involved in normal cell differentiation, a process through which embryonic cells transform into mature cells with highly specific functions.
3. Vitamin A supports male and female reproductive processes and bone growth.

iv. It is essential for immune function and vitamin-A deficiency causes decreased resistance to infections.