Retinol, the animal form of vitamin A, is a yellow fat-soluble, antioxidant vitamin important in vision and bone growth.

It belongs to the family of chemical compounds known as retinoids.

Retinol is ingested in a precursor form; animal sources (milk and eggs) contain retinyl esters, whereas plants (carrots, spinach) contain pro-vitamin A carotenoids.

Hydrolysis of retinyl esters results in retinol while pro-vitamin A carotenoids can be cleaved to produce retinal.

Vitamin A is required in the production of rhodopsin, the visual pigment used in low light levels.

This is why eating foods rich in vitamin A is said to allow you to see in the dark..

For more information about the topic Vitamin A, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:

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