Knowra Retinol Retinol Retinol is a fat-soluble alcohol form of vitamin A that supports vision, cell growth, and maintenance of epithelial tissues. It can be converted into retinal and retinoic acid, which have distinct roles in the body.
Retinal : Retinal is an aldehyde form of vitamin A that absorbs light in visual pigments. Retinol is oxidized to retinal, the light-sensitive form used in the visual cycle.
Vitamin A : Vitamin A is a group of fat-soluble compounds needed for vision, growth, reproduction, and immune function. Retinol is one major chemical form within the broader vitamin A family.
Vitamin A deficiency : Vitamin A deficiency is a shortage of vitamin A that can impair vision, immunity, and epithelial function. Insufficient retinol and other vitamin A forms can cause night blindness and eye disease.
Dietary reference intake : Dietary reference intakes are standards used to assess nutrient intake and plan diets. Vitamin A recommendations quantify intake from retinol and provitamin A sources.
Retinoic acid : Retinoic acid is a vitamin A derivative that regulates gene expression through nuclear receptors. Retinol can be converted to retinoic acid, which directs epithelial differentiation and development.
Retinoid : Retinoids are natural and synthetic compounds related to vitamin A. Retinol belongs to the retinoid family, which includes its metabolites and drug analogues.
Night blindness : Night blindness is difficulty seeing in dim light, often caused by impaired retinal function. A shortage of retinol can limit retinal production and weaken low-light vision.
Liver : The liver is an organ that processes nutrients, produces blood proteins, and performs many metabolic functions. The liver stores much of the body’s vitamin A as retinyl esters and releases retinol.
Retinol dehydrogenase : Retinol dehydrogenases are enzymes that reversibly oxidize retinol to retinal. These enzymes catalyze the first oxidation step in retinol’s conversion to retinal.
Retinyl ester : Retinyl esters are storage forms of vitamin A formed by esterifying retinol with fatty acids. Dietary and stored vitamin A is often held as retinyl esters that can release retinol.
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