Vitamin A is an essential vitamin that helps to maintain healthy eyes, bones, teeth, body tissues, mucous membranes and skin. Vitamin A is stored in body fat; therefore, vitamin A deficiencies are rare. However, vitamin A toxicity can occur when excessive amounts of vitamin A are ingested. Although, hypervitaminosis A is rare, you should be aware of the symptoms and seek proper medical treatment.
Nervous System Symptoms
Taking too much vitamin A may negatively effect your nervous system. Specifically, you may experience headache, dizziness, fatigue, malaise or blurry vision. Extremely high levels -- 25,000 IU/kg, or international units per kilogram -- may damage your eyes. Because these symptoms are unspecific, you should note any nervous system symptoms that you are experiencing and let your doctor know. In this case, you should immediately stop taking vitamin A and see if your symptoms improve.
Abdominal Symptoms
Too much vitamin A in your system may negatively effect your gastrointestinal tract. If vitamin A levels become too high, you may experience nausea or vomiting, which are unspecific symptoms that can be related to many different types of gastrointestinal problems. However, if you are noticing an increase in symptoms as you begin vitamin A supplementation or increase your vitamin A dose, you should be concerned about toxicity. Immediately stop taking vitamin A and alert your doctor of your symptoms.
Bone Symptoms
Hypervitaminosis A may cause bone pain, states MayoClinic.com. Bone pain will most likely occur as you increase your dose of vitamin A or begin a new regimen of vitamin A. If you experience bone pain, stop taking vitamin A and let your doctor know as soon as possible. Bone pain may be a symptom of another serious disease and should be fully evaluated before concluding that high vitamin A levels are causing the symptom.
Skin Symptoms
You may experience skin abnormalities if your blood levels of vitamin A are too high. In particular, you may experience excessive itching or pruritis. Many other skin disorders can cause itching; therefore, your doctor should rule out those conditions. If vitamin A is causing excessive itching or pruritis, you should stop taking vitamin A under your doctor's supervision.
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