How to Tell If You are Getting Too Much Vitamin A

Often, we are concerned about vitamin A deficiency. Are you aware that it’s also very much possible to have excessive amounts of vitamin A in the body which is something that can cause all sorts of unfavorable symptoms, and in some cases death, too? Clearly, having too little or too much vitamin A is a huge, huge problem!

If you like to know the telltale signs of getting more vitamin A than needed, continue reading. Don’t forget to share this article afterwards to get your family members and friends acquainted with them as well.

Why Vitamin A is Important

Everyone knows that vitamin A is very important for keeping the eyes healthy and the vision sharp. This nutrient is also vital for so many other things, such as safeguarding the skin from an assortment of conditions.

It’s because of the many essential roles of vitamin A why the inclusion of orange and yellow colored fruits and vegetables to the everyday diet is being done by many — they are phenomenal sources of beta carotene, a plant-based pigment that’s converted by the body into vitamin A once it needs a supply of it.

But it’s not just from brightly colored fruits and vegetables that you can obtain vitamin A. This type of vitamin is also found abundantly in liver, fish, eggs and leafy greens.

Vitamin A Supplement

Unfortunately, not everyone has a well-balanced diet, and it’s partly because of this why some people suffer from nutritional deficiencies — the word “partly” is used because there are certain nutritional deficiencies caused by underlying medical conditions, too, and not just poor eating habits.

One of the nutrients that you may end up deficient in if you do not opt for a well-balanced diet is vitamin A. it’s for this reason why there are lots and lots of vitamin A supplements available in our midst.

There is usually no need for you to supplement with vitamin A if you have healthy eating habits. However, there are a lot of people out there who still take these supplements even without the recommendations of their doctors.

Overdosing in Vitamin A

Majority of vitamin A overdose cases is caused by excessive intake of vitamin A supplements. According to doctors, it’s a problem that is more common in kids, which can easily happen due to accidental intakes.

You see, some vitamins can be easily flushed out via the urine if the body detects that there are simply too much of them around, and they are called water-soluble vitamins. Some examples are vitamin C and all the members of the B group of vitamins. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with vitamin A.

The liver is a place where unused vitamin A is stored. However, the liver can store only a limited amount of vitamin A at a time. The ones that can no longer be stored there simply circulate the body — they cannot be removed from the body since they are not water-soluble vitamins. This is when problems may strike.

Common Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of too much vitamin A can vary, depending whether it’s acute (getting high doses of vitamin A in a short period of time) or chronic (getting high doses of vitamin A over a long period of time).

Acute vitamin A overdose can leave you feeling drowsy, dizzy and irritable. You may experience abdominal pain and vomiting, too. Doctors say that acute vitamin A overdose may cause an increased pressure on the brain, and it’s something that can cause a host of serious problems.

On the other hand, chronic vitamin A overdose can cause signs and symptoms such as vision changes, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, sensitivity to light, skin dryness and itchiness, oral sores, jaundice, hair loss and confusion. Complications may strike, too, such as liver or kidney damage. At times it may cause coma and death.

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