I should start off by saying that it is better to take the vegetable version of vitamin A, which is called betacarotene, as vitamin A is stored by the body and can be toxic if taken in too great a quantity. Betacarotene is converted into vitamin A as and when needed, any surplus is expelled by the body. Don't panic about vitamin A overdosing, though, you have to take A LOT for it to affect you in any way!

Anyway, if you are planning going on holiday any time soon, start taking your vitamin A supplements now! I never believed that it could make much of a difference, and I was taking the supplements just because I was having a vitamin phase. After 4 days in the sun, I could say I was tanned! (Now for some of you that might not be much, but 1. I don't tan easily as a rule, and 2. I was only out there for a few hours, not all day long, so ...)

I believe it really does make a difference to how fast you tan.

They say it also can help vision, especially night vision, and helps slow down the ageing process - not sure about that last one, but isn't it worth a try?

I'd better just add that pregnant women are not advised to take any vitamin A supplements, and in fact any vitamin supplements should be approved by your GP first.