Vitamin A

We know—it can sometimes be hard to keep those alphabet vitamins straight! Here’s a quick refresher on vitamin A. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that your body uses to keep your eyes and immune system strong. Two big jobs, but vitamin A is up to the task—and that’s not all it does! It’s also key for a healthy pregnancy, and it helps your heart, lungs, and kidneys in top working condition. Vitamin A comes in two forms: there’s retinol or preformed vitamin A, which is found in fish oils, meat, chicken, and dairy. The other form is carotenoids or provitamin A, which you get from veggies and fruits—specifically dark leafy greens and orange or yellow fruits and vegetables. Both forms of the vitamin are available in multivitamins or in vitamin A supplements, and supplements usually list the percentage from each form. Beta-carotene is the most common type of carotenoid found in food and supplements, so that’s a term you’ll see often.