Vitamin A is a nutrient your body needs to maintain a variety of functions, including proper vision and bone growth, immune system regulation and reproduction. However, taking too much vitamin A over a short period of time may result in acute vitamin A toxicity -- a condition also known as hypervitaminosis A.
Causes
Health professionals with the Office of Dietary Supplements report that adults should receive between 900 and 1,300 mcg vitamin A daily. However, taking more than 3,000 mcg of this nutrient over a short period of time -- such as within the span of a few hours or a couple of days -- may result in acute vitamin A toxicity. Another type of vitamin A toxicity called chronic toxicity occurs when there is too much vitamin A in your body for a long period of time, such as several weeks or months.
Symptoms
Though rare, acute vitamin A toxicity may cause sudden or severe symptoms in affected people. The most common acute toxicity symptoms include nausea, diminished appetite, headache, dizziness, fatigue and dry skin. You may also experience vomiting, blurred vision and irritability. If you experience any of these symptoms while receiving treatment with vitamin A, stop taking this vitamin and contact your physician for further evaluation and care.
Complications
Depending upon how much vitamin A you take, you may experience severe medical complications due to acute vitamin A toxicity. Such effects include liver damage, swelling of your brain, internal bleeding and coma, the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University warns. High vitamin A levels may also increase your blood levels of calcium, which may lead to kidney damage. If you're pregnant, acute vitamin A toxicity may cause fetal development problems. Without prompt medical intervention, these complications may cause permanent organ damage in affected people.
Treatment
Fortunately, treatment of acute vitamin A toxicity is simple: your physician will stop your treatment with vitamin A supplements, the university of Maryland Medical Center reports. After ending vitamin A treatment, your body will naturally rid itself of excess vitamin A by excreting it through your urine.
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