Which vitamin is necessary for cells in the retina to properly function for vision?
Vitamin A is a group of unsaturated nutritional organic compounds, that includes retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and several provitamin A carotenoids, and beta-carotene. Vitamin A has multiple functions: it is important for growth and development, for the maintenance of the immune system and good vision. Retinol, the form of vitamin A absorbed when eating animal food sources, is a yellow, fat-soluble substance. 2  Since the pure alcohol form is unstable, the vitamin is found in tissues in a form of retinyl ester. 3  It is also commercially produced and administered as esters such as retinyl acetate or palmitate. Vitamin A is needed by the retina of the eye in the form of retinal, which combines with protein opsin to form rhodopsin, the light-absorbing molecule necessary for both low-light (scotopic vision) and color vision. Retinol, the form of vitamin A absorbed when eating animal food sources, is a yellow, fat-soluble substance. 2  Since the pure alcohol form is unstable, the vitamin is found in tissues in a form of retinyl ester. 3  It is also commercially produced and administered as esters such as retinyl acetate or palmitate. “We found that cells in the retina need to be 'bathed' in relatively high doses of vitamin C, inside and out, to function properly,” said Henrique von Gersdorff, Ph.D. , a senior scientist at OHSU's Vollum Institute and a co-author of the study.Because the retina is part of the central nervous system, this suggests there's likely an important role for vitamin C throughout our brains, to a degree we had not realized before.”. The brain has special receptors, called GABA-type receptors, that help modulate the rapid communication between cells in the brain. Nerve cells in the eye require vitamin C in order to function properly — a surprising discovery that may mean vitamin C is required elsewhere in the brain for its proper functioning, according to a study by scientists at Oregon Health & Science University recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience.Because the retina is part of the central nervous system, this suggests there's likely an important role for vitamin C throughout our brains, to a degree we had not realized before.”. The brain has special receptors, called GABA-type receptors, that help modulate the rapid communication between cells in the brain. The Retina. The retina is a light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye that covers about 65 percent of its interior surface. Photosensitive cells called rods and cones in the retina convert incident light energy into signals that are carried to the brain by the optic nerve.n the middle of the retina is a small dimple called the fovea or fovea centralis. It is the center of the eye's sharpest vision and the location of most color perception. The OHSU researchers found that these GABA-type receptors in the retinal cells stopped functioning properly when vitamin C was removed. Because retinal cells are a kind of very accessible brain cell, it’s likely that GABA receptors elsewhere in the brain also require vitamin C to function properly, von Gersdorff said.Because the retina is part of the central nervous system, this suggests there's likely an important role for vitamin C throughout our brains, to a degree we had not realized before.”. The brain has special receptors, called GABA-type receptors, that help modulate the rapid communication between cells in the brain. Overview. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that has several important functions in the body. 1  It helps cells reproduce normally, a process called cellular differentiation. 2  It is essential for good vision.3  It is needed for the proper development of an embryo and fetus.itamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that has several important functions in the body. 1  It helps cells reproduce normally, a process called cellular differentiation. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that has several important functions in the body. 1  It helps cells reproduce normally, a process called cellular differentiation.2  It is essential for good vision. 3  It is needed for the proper development of an embryo and fetus.itamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that has several important functions in the body. 1  It helps cells reproduce normally, a process called cellular differentiation. The skin and the lining that covers the digestive, respiratory and urinary tracts are important components of the immune system. They are your body's first barrier against infection. The retinol form of vitamin A is responsible for maintaining the function of the cells that make up these barriers.hese include: 1  Retinal-a metabolite of vitamin A required for vision. 2  Rentinol-the form of vitamin A that can be stored by the body and converted to retinal when needed. 3  Retinioc acid-a growth factor needed primarily to regulate genes. Vitamin A: Why It's Important. Vitamin A is commonly known as the vitamin needed for good eyesight. Along with promoting vision, vitamin A is also vital for regulating genes, maintaining healthy skin, supporting the immune system and producing red blood cells.hese include: 1  Retinal-a metabolite of vitamin A required for vision. 2  Rentinol-the form of vitamin A that can be stored by the body and converted to retinal when needed. 3  Retinioc acid-a growth factor needed primarily to regulate genes.
Vitamin A