The Vitamin A Laboratory (VitAL) research program: fundamental insight into vitamin A metabolism

维生素 A 实验室 (VitAL) 研究计划：维生素 A 代谢的基本见解

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-04710
• 负责人: Clugston, Robin
• 金额: $ 1.89万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2017-01-01 至 2018-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=630613
• 关键词: Vitamin; Laboratory; VitAL; research; program

Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient, required to maintain good health in humans and other animals. Since its discovery over 100 years ago, much has been learned about vitamin A biology; however, there remain fundamental gaps in our knowledge concerning its metabolism and function. Vitamin A is required to fulfill some of the body’s most basic functions, with critical roles in vision, immunity and reproduction. The necessity of adequate vitamin A intake is highlighted in the developing world, where its deficiency is associated with high infant mortality and childhood blindness. Although vitamin A deficiency is not a major issue in Canada, the contribution of impaired vitamin A function to certain cancers, birth defects and metabolic diseases, underscores its importance. With this in mind, the overall goal of the Vitamin A Laboratory’s (VitAL) research program is to improve our understanding of basic vitamin A biology.

维生素A是一种必需的微量营养素，是维持人类和其他动物健康所必需的。自从100多年前发现维生素A以来，人们对维生素A的生物学已经有了很多了解;然而，我们对维生素A的代谢和功能的了解仍然存在根本性的空白。维生素A是实现身体一些最基本功能所必需的，在视力、免疫力和生殖方面起着关键作用。发展中国家强调必须摄入足够的维生素A，缺乏维生素A与婴儿死亡率和儿童失明率高有关。虽然维生素A缺乏症在加拿大不是一个主要问题，但维生素A功能受损对某些癌症、出生缺陷和代谢疾病的影响突出了它的重要性。考虑到这一点，维生素A实验室（VitAL）研究计划的总体目标是提高我们对基本维生素A生物学的理解。