Vitamin A and Retinoids in Health and Disease

NIGHT blindness was recognized as a disease entity in ancient Egypt. Moreover, literature dating from ancient times to the early 20th century contains comments that appear to indicate recognition of the existence of a dietary substance necessary for night vision. In 1913 McCollum and Davis1 reported that an essential lipid-soluble substance in certain foods promoted growth in rats. They later called this substance "Fat Soluble A," to distinguish it from essential water-soluble nutrients ("Water Soluble B"). Further studies by a number of investigators showed that "Fat Soluble A" (later named vitamin A) not only maintained growth but was capable of . . .