Talk:Vitamin A/GA1

GA Review
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Reviewer: Hughesdarren (talk · contribs) 05:39, 20 March 2022 (UTC)

Disclaimer: This is my first review, I'm not a subject expert but have a Science degree. This review is based on what I have read in Good article criteria

The article is well written, but I have the following questions/suggestions:

In the lead section: Vitamin A occurs as two principal forms in foods: A) Retinols and B) Carotenoids ... the layout looks unusual, should each part start on a new line or be a bullet point?
 * In my opinion the text following A) and B) are not so lengthy that they deserves separate paragraphs, and I believe bullet points in Leads are rare. I did delete the last sentence of that paragraph, as it was not about food sources. David notMD (talk) 21:16, 20 March 2022 (UTC)
 * OK, no worries. Hughesdarren (talk) 10:25, 21 March 2022 (UTC)

Should there be a discussion of the differences between Vit A and retinol Definition section: "up- or down-regulates", should this be simplified to regulates?
 * First sentence of Lead describes retinol as one of the several compounds making up Vitamin A. David notMD (talk) 21:16, 20 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Yes, apologies. I think I meant more along the lines of how much retinol etc.. makes up Vitamin A. Is there some particular % of each? Hughesdarren (talk) 10:25, 21 March 2022 (UTC)
 * If you are asking for information about percentages of retinol and beta-carotene (an the lesser carotenoids) in the human diet, the range is huge. Vegans will get 100% from carotenoids (and perhaps a detary supplement), whereas people on a "meat-and-potatoes" diet low in vegetables will be consuming retinol and retinyl esters. Retinoic acid is not a significant component of diet, as RA has a short half-life. David notMD (talk) 16:43, 21 March 2022 (UTC)
 * OK, thanks for clearing that up. Hughesdarren (talk) 10:12, 22 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Done. David notMD (talk) 21:16, 20 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Cheers. Hughesdarren (talk) 10:25, 21 March 2022 (UTC)

Absorption, metabolism and excretion section:

Could this have subsections for carnivores and humans (and maybe herbivores/omnivores - if it is different)? In the lead there is a mention of this but should it be spelled out for the layman reader?
 * Subsections in the process of being created.
 * Goodo, look forward to reading them. Hughesdarren (talk) 10:25, 21 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Wow, I like the bit about yellow fat vs white fat. Makes perfect sense. Hughesdarren (talk) 10:12, 22 March 2022 (UTC)

Below actually under the Metabolic functions section:

Should Retinoic acid replace RA for this section?
 * RA established as abbreviation in first paragraph of Metabolic functions, and then text makes clear which eye functions are 11-cis-retinal mediated and which are retinoic acid.
 * True and fair enough... Hughesdarren (talk) 10:12, 22 March 2022 (UTC)

Nightblindness subsection: Link to article on Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD)?
 * Metabolic functions section and Deficiency section both now has a link to the VAD article. David notMD (talk) 21:25, 20 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Cheers, should have done that myself. Hughesdarren (talk) 10:25, 21 March 2022 (UTC)

Xerophthalmia and childhood blindness subsection: What does IU mean? Actually this is covered later in the unit of measurement section.
 * International units (with Wikilink) spelled out as definition of IU. David notMD (talk) 21:16, 20 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Goodo. Hughesdarren (talk) 10:25, 21 March 2022 (UTC)

Immune function: Maybe list some of this infectious diseases that VAD compromises the resistance of?
 * I believe the Immune functions section reads better, but please review again. David notMD (talk) 02:22, 22 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Diarrhea, measles and all cause mortality...."all-cause mortality" is a lovely medical term. This section is a highlight. Cheers for the work there. Hughesdarren (talk) 10:12, 22 March 2022 (UTC)

Animal requirements section: Do non-vertebrates require Vit A?
 * Sentence and three refs added confirming that invertebrates require vitamin A (retinol and carotenoids). David notMD (talk) 09:43, 21 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Cheers, was wondering about that. Hughesdarren (talk) 10:25, 21 March 2022 (UTC)

Synthesis section:

Do you think the image for Vitamin A biosynthesis from β-carotene should be larger?
 * This figure (and the one above it) become larger when clicked on David notMD (talk) 16:43, 21 March 2022 (UTC)
 * True, just though I'd ask. Hughesdarren (talk) 10:12, 22 March 2022 (UTC)

Is there any other chemistry (reactions etc...) that could be included?
 * None I can think of. David notMD (talk) 02:22, 22 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Fair enough. Hughesdarren (talk) 10:12, 22 March 2022 (UTC)

History section: The bit about WWII was so interesting, I was still a believer in that myth. Thanks for shattering that illusion.
 * The development and field installation of airplane-detecting radar was top secret during WWII. The German Airforce suspected that the Allies had a new technology, but for boosting British morale, carrots were credited. See http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/ww2seeinthedark.html#:~:text=Carrots%20helped%20win%20World%20War,shoot%20down%20enemy%20airplanes%20quicker for detailed history. David notMD (talk) 21:16, 20 March 2022 (UTC)
 * And some of us still fall for it. Hughesdarren (talk) 10:25, 21 March 2022 (UTC)

tables of data - should they have a reference included in the table?
 * Done. Additional usage of existing references. David notMD (talk) 16:43, 21 March 2022 (UTC)
 * Cool, Thanks. Hughesdarren (talk) 10:12, 22 March 2022 (UTC)

I believe I have addressed all of the above queries. Please let me know if any responses are incomplete, or if there is a second set of queries. David notMD (talk) 02:22, 22 March 2022 (UTC)

Review complete. All questions answered/resolved. Thanks for your candour and prompt replies. All good to go.Hughesdarren (talk) 05:39, 20 March 2022 (UTC)