Carotene, a provitamin A, in the liver, transforms into vitamin A.
It presides over growth. It feeds the mucous membrane and tissues, giving them resistance to the diseases. It confers elements of defense against infections. Its lack or insufficiency disrupts the growth of the individual, produces dryness in the skin, conjunctiva and lacrimal glands, causes diseases of the eyes (xerophthalmia, nocturnal blindness), predisposes to respiratory tract infections and renal calculi.
Vitamin A is thermostable (heat resistant to 100 ° C), water-insoluble (non-water soluble), fat soluble (fat soluble).
Rich sources of vitamin A or provitamin A (carotene) are all green leaves (the greener the leaf, the richer it is in vitamin A) and the yellowing vegetables (carrot, pumpkin, etc.) as well as fruits with this coloration (apricot, papaya, mango, peach, tangerine). Egg yolk too.