Vitamin A

Brand Names

Vitamin A, A-25, Fish Oil, Aquasol A

What is Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a group of closely related fat-soluble compounds. Lack of Vitamin A can cause blindness in developing countries, it is rare in the U.S.A. This vitamin is vital for many important functions of the body, but taking too much can be harmful.

Vitamin A plays an important role in your:

• Vision
• Bone growth
• Reproduction
• Cell functions
• Immune system

Vitamin A can come from plant or animal sources. Plant sources include colorful fruits and vegetables. Animal sources include liver and whole milk. Vitamin A is also added to foods like cereals.

Vegetarians, young children and alcoholics are need extra Vitamin A. People with liver diseases, cystic fibrosis and Crohn's disease are also need extra vitamin A.

Side effects of Vitamin A

Vitamin A can cause such serious side effects as:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
• Headaches
• A spinning sensation (vertigo)
• Blurred vision
• Problems with muscle coordination
• Irritability
• Fatigue or lethargy
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Dry skin and lips
• Increased sweating
• Brittle nails
• Gingivitis
• Hair loss
• Decreased menstrual flow
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Weight loss
• Bulging soft spot (fontanel) in babies
• Psychiatric problems that mimic severe depression
• Psychiatric problems that mimic schizophrenia (such as hallucinations or paranoia)
• Delirium
• Coma
• Signs of liver damage such as yellow eyes or skin (jaundice) or elevated liver enzymes (found using a blood test)
• Fever
• Bulging eyes
• Skin redness, followed by significant peeling of the skin
• Anemia
• Slow growth in children
• Early closure of the growth plates in children's bones
• Pneumonia
• Birth defects (if vitamin A is taken during pregnancy)
• Osteoporosis

Indication

Vitamin A is an antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation.

Precautions

You should discuss with your doctor the safeness of Vitamin A before using it. There is no necessity to use vitamin A if you have certain medical conditions.

You should not take this vitamin without asking your doctor's advice if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Although some vitamin A is needed for the normal development of a baby, Vitamin A can cause birth defects if taken in large doses. You may need to use a prenatal vitamin specially formulated for pregnant women. Ask your doctor about taking vitamin A if you are breastfeeding. Your dose сфт be different while you are nursing.

Dosage forms

Age	RDA
0 to 6 months	400 mcg daily
7 to 12 months	500 mcg daily
1 to 3 years	300 mcg daily
4 to 8 years	400 mcg daily
9 to 13 years	600 mcg daily
14 years and older (women)	700 mcg daily
14 years and older (men)	900 mcg daily
Pregnant women (14 to 18 years old)	750 mcg daily
Pregnant women (19 years and older)	770 mcgdaily
Breastfeeding women (14 to 18 years old)	1200 mcg daily
Breastfeeding women (19 years and older)	1300 mcg daily