Vitamin A is an essential fat-soluble vitamin found in eggs and some produce, says MayoClinic.com. Vitamin A is necessary for many biochemical processes, but is best known for promoting vision health. Adult men should intake 3,000 international units, or IU, per day and women 2,300 IU. Pregnant women and lactating women require 2,600 IU and 4,000 IU, respectively. However, too much vitamin A can be taken and cause vision changes, skin and hair changes, confusion, liver damage and bone pain, says website Medline Plus, with the National Institutes of Health. If you are taking too much vitamin A, you should know how to reverse its toxicity.
Step 1
Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of vitamin A toxicity. While waiting for your appointment, you should ask your doctor if you should stop taking your multivitamin or vitamin A supplement.
Step 2
Ask your doctor to perform. Blood tests, including a vitamin A blood level; bone X-rays if you have been having bone pain; liver function tests; and a cholesterol panel. Review the test results and possible abnormalities with your doctor.
Step 3
Examine your diet. In addition to halting supplement use, you also may need to temporarily reduce your intake of dairy and plant products that are high in vitamin A. Be sure to have your doctor perform follow-up vitamin A tests to make sure blood levels are within normal ranges.
Tips and Warnings
- Do not take more vitamin supplements than necessary.
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