Is orange juice high in vitamin A?

Orange juice isn’t a great natural source of vitamin A. A glass of orange juice contains only 25 mcg of vitamin A, which is about 3% of the Daily Value. Furthermore, orange juice contains vitamin A in the form of carotenoids, which have low bioavailability!

Is orange juice rich in vitamin A?

Orange juice contains alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin. A glass of freshly squeezed orange juice contains about 420 mcg beta-cryptoxanthin, 82 mcg beta-carotene, and only 15 mcg alpha-carotene.[1]

Carotenoids in a glass of orange juice are equivalent to 25 mcg of vitamin A. Actually, orange juice has a low vitamin A content. A glass of orange juice can provide us with only 3% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A!

We should eat other common foods high in vitamin A and carotenoids, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, turnip greens, dandelion greens, spinach, papaya, and pumpkin.

How much vitamin A do we need a day?

The recommended daily intake of vitamin A is 900 mcg and 700 mcg for men and women, respectively.[2]

But, the absorption rate of vitamin A depends on the dietary source. Vitamin A from animal-based foods and supplements is more bioavailable than vitamin A from plant-based foods.

In fact, the recommended daily intake refers to retinol. A form of vitamin A naturally present only in animal-based foods.

On the other hand, plant-based foods contain carotenoids. The body converts carotenoids into retinol. It’s estimated that 12 mg of beta-carotene from food is equivalent to 1 mg of vitamin A (retinol). Beta-carotene is the most abundant and well-absorbed carotenoid. Other carotenoids are less bioavailable. For instance, 24 mg of alpha-carotene or beta-cryptoxanthin from foods are converted to 1 mg of retinol.

Hence, vegans, vegetarians, and people who follow a plant-based diet should consume much higher dosages of vitamin A.

On the other hand, too much vitamin A from supplements or certain animal-based foods may be dangerous and cause side effects.

Orange juice protects your eyesight

Vitamin A is well-known for protecting your vision and skin. Although orange juice contains low amounts of vitamin A, it’s beneficial for the eyes, as they’re particularly high in vitamin C. Just a glass of orange juice contains more vitamin C than the recommended daily intake! Vitamin C is crucial for your eyesight.

Vitamin C regenerates other potent antioxidants, like vitamin E. Also, it may prevent or delay eye diseases, such as the cataracts.[3,4]

Moreover, getting high doses of both vitamin A and vitamin C are more beneficial for the eye.[5]

So, you could drink fruit juices high in vitamin A, like carrot juice with fruit juices high in vitamin C, like orange juice, in order to protect your eyesight.

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