Potential Health Benefits of Vitamin A

Vision, growth, cell division, reproduction, and immunity are all aided by vitamin A (retinol, retinoic acid). Vitamin A.

Antioxidants share antioxidant characteristics as chemicals that can neutralize free radicals formed when your body breaks down food or is exposed to minor or major harmful elements like tobacco smoke and radiation. Heart disease, cancer, and other disorders may connect to free radicals. Spinach, milk, and liver are just a few examples of foods rich in vitamin A. Green leafy vegetables, carrots, and melons are all good options because they contain beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A, which is produced by your body.

Supplementing with vitamin A through oral ingestion is helpful for those with a high vitamin A requirement due to illness or poor eating habits, such as those with pancreatic disease, eye disease, or measles. Taking vitamin A for its antioxidant characteristics is fine, but you should know that the supplement may not be as effective as eating foods rich in antioxidants.

Adult males should get 900 mcg of vitamin A daily, while adult females should get 700 mcg.

Evidence

Evidence from studies of oral vitamin A for various diseases and disorders reveals :

• Acne. Acne does not seem to respond to high dosages of oral vitamin A.
• Macular degeneration is caused by old age. Beta-carotene was found to reduce the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration by 25% in a large clinical trial of patients at high risk of developing the condition. The precise function of beta-carotene is unclear.
• Cancer. Whether or not taking vitamin A supplements will lower your risk of developing lung, prostate, or another organ cancer is unknown.
• Measles. Children with measles who are particularly at risk for vitamin A deficiency should take vitamin A supplements. According to the available evidence, supplementation may lessen the likelihood of dying from measles.
• Subpar levels of vitamin A in the body. Supplemental vitamin A seems to be most helpful for people with low vitamin A levels. This deficit is unusual in the United States. Deficiencies in vitamin A are associated with anemia and dry eyes.
• Vitamin A deficiency. In addition to being taken orally, vitamin A is used in topical creams to address wrinkles, splotches, roughness, and acne.

Point of view

Caution

Most people can get enough vitamin A through a healthy, diversified diet. Vitamin A’s antioxidant benefits are best appreciated when obtained via diet. As of now, it is unclear whether vitamin A pills provide the same health benefits as foods rich in antioxidants. In addition to being dangerous at high doses, studies have connected high levels of vitamin A in pregnant women to a higher risk of having a child with a birth defect.

Effects and Risks

An excess of vitamin A is toxic. Over 200,000 mcg in a single dose can trigger:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Vertigo
• Hazy perception

Long-term, excessive oral vitamin A supplementation (more than 10,000 mcg daily) might result in the following:

• A weakening of the bones
• Deterioration of the liver
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Itching and stinging skin
• Joint and bone pain
• Fetal Disorders

Inquire with your physician before taking vitamin A if you are pregnant or trying to conceive. Birth abnormalities have been related to taking too much vitamin A while pregnant.

Interactions

Some of the possible interactions are:

• Anticoagulants. Vitamin A supplements taken orally may raise the risk of bleeding when combined with anticoagulants.
• Bexarotene (Targretin) (Targretin). Vitamin A supplements may enhance the likelihood of skin irritation and dryness caused by this topical cancer medication.
• Treatments that are harmful to the liver. Vitamin A pills, when used in excessive amounts, can be harmful to the liver. An increased risk of liver disease may result from using both vitamin A supplements in high stakes and other medications that are known to be hard on the liver.
• Orlistat (Alli, Xenical) (Alli, Xenical). Vitamin A from food may be absorbed less efficiently when taking this weight loss medicine. While using this medication, your doctor may advise you to take a multivitamin containing vitamin A and beta-carotene.
• Retinoids. Taking these medications orally with vitamin A supplements is not recommended. In some people, this may lead to dangerously high vitamin A levels in the blood.