What is hypervitaminosis: symptoms, diagnosis, consequences, prevention

Hypervitaminosis A is a very dangerous situation that leads to negative consequences. An excess amount of the substance in the liver and other structures becomes a real poison, as it provokes destructive changes. They lead to skin pathologies, increased blood clotting, increased intracranial pressure, and nervous diseases. This is why it is so important to avoid this condition. If signs of hypervitaminosis do appear, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor.

Daily value of vitamin A for women, men and children

The daily amount of vitamin A recommended by scientists is calculated on the basis that the body not only meets its daily needs, but can also ensure its replenishment in the depot for several months in advance. Only if there is a sufficient amount of retinol in the liver, normal functioning of the immune and reproductive systems, visual organs, and even gene activity is possible.

Below is the table with information on the daily requirement for retinol. For your convenience, the numbers are presented in mcg, ME, IU. In addition, an upper intake limit is given for when vitamin A becomes toxic.

Daily doses recommended by the German Nutrition Society (DGE) and other European nutrition committees.

1 mcg = 1 mcg RE = 3.333 IU = 3.333 IU = 12 mcg beta-carotene (no fat) = 2 mcg beta-carotene (fat)

Save the table for yourself, and always rely on this data when purchasing vitamins.

Reasons why the body's need for vitamin A increases:

• Weight gain.
• Hard physical work.
• Having to work at night.
• Playing sports at a professional level.
• Emotional turmoil.
• Lack of sunlight.
• Load on the organs of vision, for example, when working at a computer.
• Pregnancy and lactation.
• Diseases of the digestive system.
• Viral infections.

TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Remember that treatment of hypervitaminosis must be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor! The specialist determines the cause of the disease based on the patient’s test data. Therapy consists of three main points that promote a speedy recovery.

First, the intake of excess vitamin is reduced to the required daily dose. This is achieved by adjusting a person’s diet and following a diet.

Next, symptomatic treatment begins. Painful or allergic reactions of the body to hypervitaminosis are eliminated. If you carry out only symptomatic therapy without reducing the supply of vitamins from outside, the disease will progress!

The last stage is detoxification. The body is cleansed of excess of certain substances, since a surplus of vitamins is similar to poisoning.

It is much easier to prevent a disease than to treat it. Carefully monitor the dosage of vitamins you take, having previously agreed on prevention with a specialist. Hypervitaminosis threatens all people, depending on age groups, so take it seriously!

Metabolism in the body

Regardless of the form, retinol is absorbed by 50-90% of the total amount. Once in the systemic circulation, its molecules bind to blood proteins and reach the liver. It is this organ that acts as a depot for the vitamin. If too little of it comes from outside, then the liver covers the body’s needs. Its reserves are impressive, they last for about a year. From the liver, vitamin A travels through the bloodstream to various organs. Their cells have receptors that capture retinol molecules and deliver them inside, where they are consumed.

Vitamin A enters the body from the liver regularly, due to which its stable level of 0.7 µmol/l is maintained in the blood. Once in the gastrointestinal tract, it is first sent to the depot to replenish spent reserves, and unused retinol circulates in the systemic circulation.

In the cells of internal organs, vitamin A is contained in the form of retinal and retinoic acid. Therefore, in the blood these two forms are detected in quantities of no more than 0.35 µmol/l. When their content in various biological structures decreases, they lose the ability to perform life-supporting functions, which is why a person develops various diseases.

In order for the body to better absorb vitamin A, it must be supplied together with zinc and vitamin E.

How to achieve better absorption of vitamin A?

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble substance, so it should be consumed with oily or fat-containing foods. This applies to a greater extent to carotene from plant foods. In order for carrots, dill or parsley to become a source of provitamin A, the salad with them needs to be seasoned with oil. You can enhance the effect by regular walks in the sun.

The best vitamin A supplement is vitamin E (tocopherol). In this combination, it is absorbed much faster, but the dose must be controlled.

It is also often prescribed together with vitamin C. This combination improves the absorption of iron, which is very important in the fight against anemia.

If there is too much vitamin E, it will neutralize the benefits of vitamin A. Vitamin D slows down its absorption. Therefore, taking them together is undesirable. There will be no benefit from vitamin A if there is a deficiency of zinc in the body.

Antioxidant vitamin-mineral complexes containing vitamin A have been developed. They often contain selenium, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, zinc, and iron. Such drugs are prescribed by doctors to correct deficiency conditions, as well as for various diseases.

When consuming plant foods as a source of vitamin A, you need to understand that about 30% of beta-carotene will be absorbed. And even after it is absorbed, it will take as much as 12 mcg of carotene to transform it into 1 mcg of vitamin A (1:12 ratio).

During scientific research, it was found that the activity of carotenoids is 2 times lower than previously thought. In this regard, the US Institute of Medicine in 2001 proposed a new unit as the equivalent of retinol activity - RAE. As a result, the following values ​​were obtained:

• 1 mcg retinol = 1 RAE.
• 2 mcg beta carotene dissolved in fat = 1 RAE.
• 12 mcg beta-carotene from food = 1 RAE.
• 24 mcg other multivitamins A = 1 RAE.

In order for vegetables to give the body the maximum amount of vitamin A they contain, it is recommended to fry them in a frying pan with a small amount of oil for 2-3 minutes. The fiber softens and it is easier for the intestines to “extract” useful substances from it. Other heat treatments have a similar effect on products.

It is better to steam or grill meat. This way it will retain more vitamin A.

Causes of hypervitaminosis development

The main reason for poisoning the body with retinol is the simultaneous use of high doses of the drug. Also, the accumulation of vitamins is facilitated by the use of dietary supplements, the dosage of which does not correspond to the internal needs of a person.

The accumulation of the substance is facilitated by the fact that vitamin A is fat soluble. This property makes it persistent, making it difficult to remove through the urinary system. This is how chronic hypervitaminosis A develops.

An excess of a substance leading to poisoning can occur as a result of an overdose of pharmacological drugs - Retinol, Axerol, Vitaplex A.

In rare cases, the cause of vitamin poisoning may be a mistake by medical personnel - exceeding the dose when administering the drug intramuscularly .

Functions and biological role of vitamin A in the human body

The importance of vitamin A for the human body:

1. Regulation of the synthesis of steroid hormones and proteins.
2. Activation of spermatogenesis.
3. Antitumor activity.
4. Normalization of metabolism.
5. Formation of lipids and bone tissue.
6. Improving skin condition, accelerating cell regeneration.
7. Improving the quality of nails and hair. Vitamin A makes them stronger and enhances their ability to withstand destructive factors.
8. Neutralization of free radicals.
9. Strengthening the immune system.
10. Helping the body fight infectious diseases.
11. Promotes proper growth and development of the embryo.
12. Improving the function of twilight vision by stimulating the formation of rhodopsin.
13. Prevention of inflammatory diseases of the cornea.

[Video] Briefly about the main functions of vitamin A and its role in the human body:

What diseases does a lack of vitamin A in the body lead to?

With a deficiency of vitamin A in the body, a person develops the following diseases and disorders:

1. Dry skin. The skin becomes dry, inflammation increases, and the risk of developing eczema increases. It has been scientifically proven that in people suffering from chronic eczema, the intensity of its symptoms decreased by 53% (with a three-month intake of vitamin A) [1].
2. Dry eyes. Severe vitamin deficiency with severe vitamin A deficiency can cause complete loss of vision or death of the cornea. One study found that taking high doses of vitamin A reduced dry eyes in infants and children by 63%. The experiment lasted for 1 year and 4 months [2].
3. Night blindness. With a lack of vitamin A, night blindness develops. A scientific study found that women suffering from night blindness began to see 50% better in the dark. The course of treatment lasted for six months [3]..
4. Infertility. Vitamin A deficiency leads to the development of infertility in men and women, and can also cause congenital malformations in children. An experiment with rats revealed that females lacking vitamin A cannot become pregnant, and their offspring are born defective [4]. Another danger of retinol deficiency is the high risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy [5]..
5. Acne. Vitamin A deficiency leads to acne, the appearance of pimples. It has been established that in the body of adults suffering from acne, the level of retinol is 80 mcg lower than in people who do not have this problem. Using a cream with vitamin A helps reduce the number of acne by half [8].
6. Delayed physical development in children. Indonesian scientists have found that vitamin A supplements stimulate skeletal growth in children with vitamin A deficiency. They gained 0.39 cm more in height than children who were given a placebo. And when retinol is combined with several vitamins, this indicator becomes even better, as was proven in another study conducted with children from South Africa [6].
7. Vitamin A deficiency increases the risk of colds, particularly throat and upper respiratory tract infections. Scientists observed Ecuadorian children who took 10,000 IU of vitamin A per week. They noticed that this group of subjects suffered less often from infectious diseases than those who received a placebo [7].
8. A lack of vitamin A causes the skin to take longer to recover. Taking retinol stimulates collagen production and also prevents the development of ulcers in people with diabetes. One study found that older men who lubricated wounds with vitamin A cream healed 2 times faster compared to patients who did not use this cream [9].

Chronic hypervitaminosis in children

With a chronic excess of vitamin A in children, the following is observed:

• changes in hair structure (they become sparse, hard and dry),
• loss of eyebrow hair, partial baldness,
• deterioration of nails (brittleness),
• dry skin, cracking,
• joint pain,
• lack of appetite,
• loss of body weight and slowdown in growth processes,
• bleeding gums and nosebleeds,
• liver enlargement,
• thickening of bones.

It should be remembered that in children the state of vitamin A hypervitaminosis occurs much faster, within just a few weeks.

How to determine vitamin A deficiency?

To identify a lack of vitamin A in the body, you need to donate blood to determine the level of retinol in it. This can be done at any nearby laboratory. The normal levels of vitamin A in the blood are in the range of 0.3 – 0.8 mcg/ml.

If the result is normal, this means that there is enough vitamin in the body at the moment. However, it will not be possible to determine its reserves using analysis. In the blood, the level of retinol will be maintained at a normal level until the depot runs out. Therefore, if the analysis reveals a decrease in values, it means that the liver is devastated, and hypovitaminosis with vitamin A deficiency develops in the body.

If this indicator is elevated, then the body has run out of capacity to store it for future use. This can be dangerous, since excess vitamin A circulating in the blood is deposited in tissues and has a toxic effect.

If there are few reserves of retinol in the body, then it will be determined in the blood within normal limits, but closer to the lower values. This pattern persists until a situation arises in which the cells require more vitamin A than usual, such as pregnancy. The depot will begin to empty quickly, which has a negative impact on health. This is why pregnant women so often develop night blindness.

What are the symptoms of hypervitaminosis D?

Excessive amounts of vitamin D in the body increases calcium levels in the blood. This can lead to a condition called hypercalcemia

(too much calcium in the blood). Symptoms include:

1. fatigue;
2. loss of appetite;
3. excessive thirst;
4. increased diuresis (excessive urination);
5. dehydration;
6. constipation;
7. irritability, nervousness;
8. tinnitus;
9. muscle weakness;
10. nausea, vomiting;
11. dizziness;
12. confusion, disorientation;
13. high blood pressure;
14. arrhythmias.

Vitamin A hypervitaminosis

Vitamin A is highly soluble in fat, so it accumulates quickly in the body. For this reason, long-term use of high concentrations of retinol (more than 180 - 430 mcg per kg of body weight per day, that is, approximately 100,000 IU) leads to an overdose.

Hypervitaminosis is dangerous. It negatively affects the functioning of internal organs. First of all, vision and the reproductive system are affected.

Acute poisoning develops when vitamin A is present in the body at a concentration of 25,000 IU/kg (7,500 mcg).

Chronic intoxication with retinol occurs when it enters the body daily in an amount of 4,000 IU/kg (1,200 mcg) for 6-15 months.

Symptoms indicating vitamin A hypervitaminosis:

• Nausea.
• Hepatomegaly.
• Decreased appetite.
• Joint pain.
• Inflammation of the cornea of ​​the eye.

Symptoms. Chronic intoxication is indicated by yellowed palms and feet, mucous membranes, while there are no acute symptoms of poisoning. Animals that were administered an excess of vitamin A in a dose exceeding the norm by 100 times developed a pro-oxidant effect. However, intoxication was not observed if vitamin E and ascorbic acid were taken into the body together with carotenoids, since these substances protect cells from oxidation.

If the dose is sharply exceeded, death may occur. Similar cases were observed when eating the liver of a polar bear, shark, husky and some marine animals. People first encountered acute vitamin A poisoning during the Third Barents Expedition in 1597, when its participants became seriously ill after eating polar bear liver.

Acute intoxication manifests itself in the form of paralysis and convulsive seizures. In chronic poisoning, intracranial pressure increases, headache develops, and nausea and vomiting occur. The macula of the eye swells, visual function suffers. The functioning of internal organs is disrupted, the liver and kidneys are primarily affected, and bruises appear on the skin. Spontaneous bone fractures are no less dangerous. Newborns whose mothers received excess vitamin A during pregnancy develop various defects. Therefore, you need to consume retinol during the gestational period strictly following the dosage.

To relieve the toxic effect, it is recommended to take mannitol, which helps normalize intracranial pressure and cope with headaches. To accelerate metabolic processes and stabilize lysosomes in the kidneys and liver, steroid hormones are administered. Vitamin E has a similar effect.

It is forbidden to take high doses of vitamin A not only during pregnancy, but also during the period of planning conception (six months before the expected pregnancy), as this poses a threat to the fetus.

Causes

Now that you know what hypervitaminosis is, it’s time to understand its causes. Most often, they are the uncontrolled use of drugs that contain too many of certain beneficial substances.

In addition, this painful condition can also develop when you begin, in addition to the vitamin you get through a certain drug, to eat a large amount of food that also contains this vitamin.

You should always remember what hypervitaminosis is and what danger it poses. Each vitamin in our body performs specific functions. It is important that beneficial substances appear in the body only in the required proportions.

Benefits of Vitamin A

Benefits of vitamin A for the body:

1. Eye protection. Vitamin A is necessary for the normal functioning of the visual organs. It is used to prevent night blindness, since vitamin A is a basic component of rhodopsin, the deficiency of which leads to the development of nyctalopia. In addition, several studies have shown that people over 50 years of age who take a vitamin A supplement have a 25% lower risk of progression to macular degeneration. It is this process that is the leading factor in the development of senile blindness [10].
2. Cancer prevention. Scientists have found that it can be used to prevent Hodgkin's lymphoma, cervical, bladder and lung cancer [11], [12], [13], [14]. However, smokers should take vitamin A supplements with caution and do not exceed recommended doses. In a study of more than 10,000 subjects, smokers with high levels of alpha-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin were found to have a 46% and 61% higher risk of dying from lung cancer, respectively, compared to non-smokers [15]. .
3. Vitamin A is a strong antioxidant. It has the ability to neutralize free radicals that cause cellular oxidation and lead to the development of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular pathologies, and weakened mental abilities.
4. Vitamin A helps support immunity. It strengthens the resistance of cells in confrontation with harmful flora. First of all, this concerns the respiratory system, vision, digestive tract, and reproductive organs. It takes part in the production of leukocytes, which are the main fighters against viruses and bacteria. There is evidence of a reduced risk of mortality in African children from malaria and measles, provided they do not have vitamin A deficiency [16].
5. Makes the skin clean, eliminates acne and acne. Preparations based on it are often used to treat severe acne. However, they must be prescribed by a doctor, as they have a number of contraindications.
6. Vitamin A is essential for bone health. In people with retinol deficiency, the risk of fractures increases, and with sufficient retinol, it is reduced by 6% [17].
7. Vitamin A is necessary for the normal functioning of the reproductive system and for the proper development of the fetus. A study on rats showed that a lack of retinol blocks the development of sperm, which causes male infertility. In females, with a lack of vitamin A, the number of eggs capable of fertilization decreases, and the likelihood of successful implantation of the egg in the uterus decreases. Its deficiency in pregnant women leads to disturbances in the development of the skeleton, nervous system, heart, kidneys, eyes, lungs and pancreas in the fetus. However, we must remember that an excess of retinol is no less dangerous [18], [19].

Application in medicine

Vitamin A can be prescribed by a doctor in the following cases:

• Lack of vitamin A due to low protein levels in the body. It is also recommended for patients with diabetes mellitus, overactive thyroid gland, hyperthermia, kidney pathologies, cystic fibrosis and abelatipoproteinemia.
• When there is a threat of breast cancer. There is evidence that a high intake of vitamin A from food reduces the risk of its development. This is especially true for women with a complicated medical history who have entered menopause.
• To prevent the development of cataracts.
• For diarrhea due to HIV. Taking vitamin A reduces the likelihood of death from diarrhea in HIV-infected children.
• In the treatment of malaria, to relieve the symptoms of the disease. Studies have shown its effectiveness in treating children under 3 years of age.
• In the treatment of measles, to reduce the risk of complications and reduce mortality from this infection.
• For the treatment and prevention of oral leukoplakia.
• In order to restore the organs of vision after undergoing laser correction. The best effect can be achieved by combining retinol with vitamin E.
• During pregnancy to reduce the risk of diarrhea, fever, night blindness. This is relevant for women with vitamin A deficiency.
• For retinitis pigmentosa and other diseases affecting the retina.

Prevention

To avoid an excess of vitamins, you should not abuse vitamin supplements and complexes. It is enough to consume them only in autumn and winter, and during the rest of the year it is better to diversify your diet in order to get the necessary substances from foods.

To prevent hypervitaminosis, you should take a break of a month after taking each vitamin complex. Also, unfamiliar alcohol solutions and products are used with increased caution. When taking vitamins, strictly follow your doctor's recommendations. Without consulting a doctor, it is prohibited to give your child any medications or biologically active substances containing large amounts of vitamins. The vitamins themselves should be kept out of the reach of children.

Remember that you can get enough vitamins if you eat a balanced diet. If this is not possible for some reason, you should start taking vitamins. In most cases, domestically produced vitamins are prescribed, since they are created taking into account the population that lives in the region. These additives are strictly controlled and tested.

Moreover, there are special treatment complexes in which the daily norm can be significantly exceeded, even tens of times. If you start taking these medications without consulting a doctor and without medical supervision, you will definitely have hypervitaminosis. So before starting any drug, be sure to consult your doctor. Only in this case will you be able to avoid dangerous conditions. If the first symptoms appear, consult a doctor immediately.

Vitamin A for face, hair and nails

Vitamin A is not afraid of exposure to high temperatures, but is extremely sensitive to ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, products and products containing it should be protected from exposure to sunlight.

For facial skin

Vitamin A is a basic substance responsible for skin health and guarantees its firmness and elasticity. If its content is normal, the likelihood of age spots, acne, blackheads, dryness and dullness of the skin is minimized.

Vitamin A is sold in pharmacies. It can be purchased in capsules, as an oil solution or ampoules. You should not thoughtlessly use it for skin care, as the substance has high biological activity. It is recommended for use by people over 35 years of age.

Masks are made with vitamin A. To enhance the effect, various auxiliary components are added to them, for example, full-fat sour cream, burdock or olive oil, aloe juice, oatmeal, honey.

To get rid of small facial wrinkles and bruises under the eyes, apply the drug Aevit or a mixture of vitamin A and oil to the skin.

A mask based on vitamin A, ground lentils and zinc ointment helps get rid of acne. This composition needs to be applied once every 2 weeks. Contraindications to its use are open wounds on the skin, or an allergy to any component included in the composition.

For nails

To care for nail plates, vitamin A is used in conjunction with various components. In addition to retinol, to prepare the mask you will need:

• Vitamin B and D.
• Oily hand cream.
• Coconut oil.
• Lemon juice.
• 1-2 drops of iodine.

All components are mixed and applied to the nails and skin of the hands, rubbing in with light massaging movements. This composition helps to significantly improve the condition of the skin of the hands and nails.

For hair

Vitamin A is added to shampoo before each hair wash. You should not immediately pour it into the shampoo bottle, as it will oxidize. To give hair shine, strength and softness, vitamin A is added to ready-made masks.

You can enhance the effectiveness of the product with the help of auxiliary components: vitamin E, oils, decoctions of horsetail or chamomile, starch. Pepper and mustard accelerate hair growth.

People allergic to vitamin A should use such masks with caution. It is not recommended to use them if the sebaceous glands are overactive.

[Video] A practicing cosmetologist explains how to properly use retinol in cosmetology:

Diagnosis of hypervitaminosis

There are no specific diagnostic methods for vitamin A overdose. When making a diagnosis, the doctor is guided by the results of the anamnesis (data collection) and clinical symptoms:

• slowing or stopping growth in children;
• anorexia in adults;
• low resistance to infectious diseases;
• ulcerative lesions of the mucous membranes;
• signs of inflammation of the meninges.

Carefully examine the skin for pigmentation, rashes, and peeling.

Laboratory research methods include blood and urine tests for vitamin A levels. Additionally, a biochemical blood test may be prescribed to determine cholesterol levels.

An abdominal ultrasound is performed to assess the condition of internal organs..

Instructions for use of vitamin A

Indications for use of vitamin A:

• Treatment and prevention of hypovitaminosis. The basis for prescribing retinol may be characteristic symptoms: weight loss, frequent infectious diseases, headaches, ulcerative defects on the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. Vitamin A deficiency can be detected through laboratory tests.
• Treatment of infectious diseases. In this case, vitamin A is prescribed together with vitamin C.
• Rickets. Retinol is used in combination with vitamin D.
• Nyctalopia (night blindness). Vitamin A is used in combination with nicotinic acid.
• Dermatological diseases, such as pustular dermatitis or psoriasis.

Vitamin A preparations are suitable for oral administration in the form of capsules, powders, dragees, solutions, tablets. Its intramuscular and intravenous administration is also acceptable. They make lotions, applications, dressings, etc. with it.

Injection of vitamin A is permissible only in a hospital, with severe retinol deficiency, or in the treatment of severe diseases of the digestive, respiratory and genitourinary systems.

The substance is applied locally in the form of an oil solution for ulcerative defects, wounds, eczema, burns, frostbite.

Oral administration is practiced in the treatment of mild hypovitaminosis. Daily dose of the drug: 3-5 tablets, after meals. The oil solution is applied to a piece of black bread in the amount of 10-20 drops 3 times a day.

The course can last from 14 days to 4 months. The exact timing depends on the specific clinical case.

Taking the vitamin for 30 days is indicated for the following conditions:

• Hypovitaminosis.
• Night blindness.
• Inflammation of the dermis and mucous membranes.
• Strengthening the immune system.

This should be followed by a break of 2-3 months, after which the course is repeated.

The injection dose for adult patients is 10,000 - 100,000 IU, and for children 5,000 - 10,000 IU. The total number of injections can be from 20 to 30.

For oral administration and intramuscular administration, the maximum single dose is 50,000 IU (15,000 mcg or 15 mg). The maximum daily dose is 5,000-10,000 IU per day.

Diagnostics

In most cases, the diagnosis of any form of hypervitaminosis without exception is based on the history of the disease, clinical manifestations, that is, symptoms, as well as the results of instrumental and laboratory data.

It is noteworthy that the diagnosis has practically no specificity either for an excess of water-soluble vitamins or for an overdose of fat-soluble vitamins.

It all starts with a thorough study of the patient’s medical history and medical history. It is important for the doctor to find out when and how it all started, what clinical signs preceded this disease, what foods were included in the patient’s diet and in what quantity, whether such conditions arose previously, and how they could manifest themselves. It is important to clarify which medications containing a particular vitamin the patient may have taken recently.

It is worth noting that in most cases, hypervitaminosis develops against the background of abuse of vitamin complexes, usually in childhood, when parents try to give their baby as many vitamins as possible, without thinking at all about the likely consequences.

The next step is to analyze the presence of clinical symptoms. In 95% of cases these are general symptoms - headache, weakness, malaise. Specific symptoms typical of a particular type of poisoning appear in 95 percent of cases. In this case, local manifestations are more characteristic of a certain type of disease.

In conclusion, it is important to determine the level of vitamin content in the blood plasma. The concentration can be increased three to five times, and in some cases even a hundred times.

For all types of hypervitaminosis, the diagnosis ends here, and then treatment begins.

The best vitamin A on iHerb

• Solgar vitamin A. The drug is available in tablets, each of which contains vitamin A in the amount of 1500 mcg and vitamin C in the amount of 10 mg.
• New Foods. The drug is available in the form of soft tablets. Take 1 unit per day with meals. Vitamin A content per 1 serving – 10,000 IU.
• Source Naturals Active A. The drug is available in tablet form. Take 1 tablet per day. It contains vitamin A at a dosage of 25,000 IU and calcium at a dosage of 23 mg.
• Nature's Way. The release form is presented in soft gelatin capsules. Take the drug 1 time per day with meals. One serving contains 3,000 mcg of vitamin A.

Vitamin A for children

The composition of the drugs should include only vitamin A, or its combination with vitamin E. They are prescribed only for diagnosed hypovitaminosis, subject to strict adherence to the dosage.

You can independently offer your child vitamin A only if it is part of a multivitamin complex. Its content in them is low and cannot harm health.

The most popular brands:

• Vitrum.
• Complivit.
• Jungle.
• Multitabs.
• Pikovit.
• Sana-sol, etc.

You can also offer children supplements containing beta-carotene, which is converted into retinol in the body. Its overdose is not dangerous, even if you accidentally take an excess amount of the drug. The only side effect is that the skin turns yellowish. This symptom goes away on its own when the drug is discontinued.

Among the most popular supplements with beta-carotene: Alphabet, Vetoron, Supradin Kids in gel form, Triovit (allowed from 12 years old), Betaviton (allowed from 14 years old).

Aevit or retinol in capsules and solution can only be used for the treatment of vitamin A deficiency, as they contain up to 20 daily requirements of retinol, and can cause an overdose!

However, the oil solution can be used for local treatment of burns, wounds, stomatitis, eczema and ulcers.

Treatment

Treatment of hypervitaminosis consists of immediately discontinuing vitamin preparations [and (or) changing the diet] in order to prevent further intake of the vitamin into the body.

As a rule, after stopping the intake of vitamin-containing products, the condition returns to normal.

The first action for hypervitaminosis is discontinuation of the drug that caused the overdose.

In severe or moderate conditions, symptomatic treatment is recommended in accordance with the clinical picture.

Contraindications and precautions

Consuming excess amounts of vitamin A can be dangerous to your health. With a balanced diet, the daily dose can be easily obtained without the use of specific additives, from ordinary products. For adults, the upper daily limit is 3,000 mcg (10,000 IU). Very high doses can cause severe poisoning and even death.

Overdose symptoms:

• Deterioration of visual function.
• Joint pain, bone pain.
• Lack of desire to eat.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Photosensitivity.
• Baldness.
• Headache.
• Dry skin.
• Liver damage.
• Yellowing of the skin.
• Stunted growth.
• Dizziness.
• Skin itching.

Excessive amounts of vitamin A are dangerous during pregnancy. Overdose carries a risk to the health of the mother and fetus. There is evidence that hypervitaminosis of vitamin A increases the risk of developing lung cancer in smokers. Therefore, you need to take retinol supplements carefully and strictly follow the dosage.

Signs of severe vitamin A deficiency

Vitamin A deficiency develops if a person consumes few foods containing this substance. Alcoholism and malabsorption aggravate the situation. You can understand that the body is experiencing a lack of vitamin A by the following signs:

• Night blindness. This is the first signal of existing hypovitaminosis.
• Corneal ulcers. With severe vitamin A deficiency, vision can be lost completely.
• Immunodeficiency.
• Frequent respiratory infections. Among children with vitamin deficiency, there is a higher mortality rate from measles.
• Diarrhea.
• Impaired growth and bone formation.
• COPD, pulmonary emphysema. Obstruction most often develops in smokers.

Signs of excess vitamin A

Symptoms of acute vitamin A hypervitaminosis:

• Nausea.
• Headache.
• Decreased performance.
• Loss of appetite.
• Dizziness.
• Dry skin.
• Brain swelling.

Chronic hypervitaminosis of vitamin A can cause the development of osteoporosis, as well as birth defects in the fetus. In this regard, retinol derivatives are especially dangerous, so it is better for pregnant women to be prescribed beta-carotene.

People with an increased risk of lung cancer, smokers, and people whose bodies are exposed to asbestos should not take vitamin A supplements for a long time.

Features of the disease

Understanding what hypervitaminosis is, it is worth noting that these are disturbances in the functioning of our body, caused precisely by an excess amount of useful substances.

At its core, it can be of two types - acute and chronic. Acute appears when taking a large dose of one or several vitamins at once. Its symptoms are very similar to poisoning. At the same time, chronic hypervitaminosis develops regularly when a person systematically consumes more vitamins than he needs. In this case, the symptoms may not be as obvious.