Retinol Overview Retinol (RET-uh-nol) is the scientific name for vitamin A, a vitamin found only in animals. It occurs as a yellowish to orange powder with a slight brownish cast and is a relatively stable compound. Retinol is converted in the body from...

Vitamin A deficiency exists when the chronic failure to eat sufficient amounts of vitamin A or beta-carotene results in levels of blood-serum vitamin A that are below a defined range. Beta-carotene is a form of pre-vitamin A, which is readily converted...

Since its discovery in the early part of this century, we have learned a great deal about vitamin A. Among other things, we now know that this once-mysterious compound is essential for normal growth and development, that it plays a central role in...

Fat-soluble alcohol, most abundant in fatty fish and especially in fish-liver oils. It is not found in plants, but many vegetables and fruits contain beta-carotene (&see; carotene), which is readily converted in the body to vitamin A. It functions...

Retinol (Afaxin), the animal form of vitamin A, is a fat-soluble vitamin important in vision and bone growth. It belongs to the family of chemical compounds known as retinoids. Retinol is ingested in a precursor form; animal sources (liver and eggs)...