Vitamin A represents an essential part of a healthy diet. The vitamin, found in foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes and fortified milk, plays a role in maintaining good health. Specifically, vitamin A helps support proper vision, proper tissue maturation and maintains your immune system. However, consuming large doses of vitamin A can prove dangerous, with a number of harmful side effects caused by vitamin A toxicity.
Nausea and Vomiting
An acute symptom of vitamin A toxicity is nausea and vomiting, according to the National Institutes of Health. This may occur shortly after consuming one large dose, as your body works to eliminate the contents of your stomach to stop further absorption of the vitamin. Note that vomiting can dehydrate, and if you develop these symptoms as a result of vitamin A toxicity, drink water to replenish the fluids lost from sickness. Avoid drinks that contain vitamin A, including some fruit juices, milk or vitamin-fortified beverages, until the nausea subsides and you have consulted with a physician.
Skin Abnormalities
One type of side effect caused by vitamin A toxicity is the development of skin abnormalities. MedlinePlus, a medical website run by the National Institutes of Health, indicates that excessive vitamin A consumption can cause a yellowing or discoloration of the skin, scaling and peeling skin, of excessive oil production. In addition, the skin at the corners of your mouth may become cracked, leading to pain when talking or eating.
Neurological Symptoms
Long-term vitamin A toxicity may cause serious side effects, including neurological symptoms as a result of tissue damage. Specifically, chronic vitamin A over-consumption can cause dizziness and changes in your level of consciousness, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. In some cases, vitamin A toxicity may also lead to vision changes, causing blurred of double vision. If you are taking vitamin A supplements and develop these symptoms, stop taking any vitamin supplements and seek immediate medical attention.
Avoiding Vitamin A Toxicity
Vitamin A toxicity can prove extremely harmful, but can also be easily avoided. Vitamin toxicity often occurs due to supplementation, so aim to consume vitamin A from dietary sources, such as leafy greens. When selecting vitamin A supplements, check product labels and choose products that contain carotenoids, such as beta-carotene. Products that contain large amounts of pre-formed vitamin A, sometimes labeled as vitamin A palmitate or acetate, or simply "vitamin A," may prove more likely to cause vitamin A toxicity, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Most importantly, always consult with a physician before beginning any vitamin or dietary supplementation, to discuss your need for supplements, the right products to choose, as well as a safe and appropriate dosage for you.
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