Toxicity of Vitamin A: Symptoms, Treatment & Recommended Doses

When you consume too much vitamin A, you can suffer from hypervitaminosis A. There are typical three ways this can occur.

• From diet - Certain foods can contain a high amount of vitamin A. Most animal livers like seal liver and moose liver are toxic in the amount of vitamin A they contain.

• From supplements - Taking certain supplements, like cod liver oil, can supply you with a toxic level of vitamin A

• From medications - There are certain medical conditions that require a higher dose of vitamin A as part of their treatments. This high dose of vitamin A can cause hypervitaminosis A.

Hypervitaminosis A can pose a number of symptoms depending on whether it is acute or chronic hypervitaminosis A.

Acute hypervitaminosis symptoms can include:

• Abdominal discomfort

• Increase irritability

• Drowsiness

• Pressure to the brain

Chronic hypervitaminosis symptoms can include:

• Vision problems or blurred vision

• Light sensitivity

• Dizziness

• Bone pain

• Swelling of bones

• Decrease in appetite

• Rough skin

• Peeling of skin

• Dry skin

• Fingernails cracking

• Mouth ulcers

• Cracks at the corner of your mouth

• Jaundice or yellowing of the skin

• Loss of hair

• Disorientation

• Infection to the respiratory system

Nausea, vomiting, headaches and rashes are also common symptoms of both acute and chronic vitamin A toxicity.

Children or infants may also exhibit the following symptoms if they have consumed too much vitamin A.

• Skull bone softens

• The soft spot of the skull, or fontanel, begins to bulge.

• Bulging of the eyes

• Vision difficulty

• Stop gaining weight

• Coma

Complications

Consuming too much Vitamin A can lead to:

• Damage to the liver

• Weak bones or osteoporosis

• Damage to the kidneys

Treating hypervitaminosis A is as simple as stopping the intake of vitamin A. Most individuals who suffer from hypervitaminosis A tend to recover fully in just a few weeks.

Preventing hypervitaminosis A is just as simple as treating it. You want to be careful of how much vitamin you are taking on a daily basis and not exceed the recommended vitamin A dietary standard. The US Institute of Medicine Daily Tolerable Upper Level clearly states the suggested daily recommendation of vitamin A to avoid vitamin A toxicity as listed below. This vitamin A dosage is based on natural retinol esters and synthetic forms of vitamin A. It is important to stay below the daily recommendation because vitamin A has one of the shortest margins for under and over values of intake.

Recommended Intake of Vitamin A

• Infants from birth to 12 months should take no more than 600 micrograms a day.

• Children from the age of 1 to 3 years old should also consume no more than 600 micrograms of vitamin A a day.

• Children from the age of 4 to 8 years old should consume no more than 900 micrograms of vitamin A a day.

• Males and females from the ages 9 to 13 should consume no more than 1700 micrograms a day of vitamin A.

• Males and females from the ages 14 to 18 should consume no more than 2800 micrograms of vitamin A a day.

• Males and females from the age 19 and up should consume no more than  3000 micrograms of vitamin A on a daily basis.

• If you are pregnant and under the age of 19, the daily recommendation of vitamin A is no more than 2800 micrograms; this is also the suggested value when you are breastfeeding and under the age of 19.

• Women who are over the age of 19 should take no more than 3000 micrograms of vitamin A while pregnant to avoid vitamin A toxicity. If also breastfeeding and over the age of 19, you should also consume no more than 3000 micrograms of vitamin A.