Your liver is important for processing and breaking down potentially toxic materials in your blood. Although you need a certain amount of vitamins and minerals to function properly, some vitamins can be toxic for your liver in high doses. Be sure to talk to your doctor before taking any vitamin supplements, particularly if you already have liver disease.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a term used to describe many different related compounds, such as retinol, retinoic acid and retinal, that play an important role in the human body. You need vitamin A to control the way your DNA is used, for vision, to make new red blood cells and to keep your immune system strong. However, vitamin A can also be toxic to your liver. You should avoid consuming more than 3,000 micrograms, or 10,000 IU, of vitamin A each day to prevent liver problems, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Iron
Although iron is not a vitamin, this mineral is often found in multivitamins. Although iron is necessary for making new red blood cells and other functions, it can also be stored in tissues, resulting in a condition known as hemochromatosis. If you have chronic liver disease, you are more likely to develop iron deposition in your liver, which can cause additional damage to your liver, says "American Family Physician." As a result, you may need to avoid multivitamins that contain iron.
Signs of Liver Damage
If your liver becomes damaged due to too much vitamin A or iron deposition, it may become enlarged and tender, causing pain in the upper right portion of your abdomen. Liver dysfunction can also cause jaundice, which results in yellowing of the whites of your eyes and skin. Other symptoms of liver disease include abnormally dark urine, the accumulation of fluid in your abdomen and a tendency to bleed or bruise more easily.
Considerations
If you have liver disease, you may need to follow a special diet to keep your liver problems from getting worse. Although high doses of vitamin A and iron can be dangerous, you may need vitamin supplementation as your liver may also have trouble storing vitamins for later use. You should talk to your doctor and/or a registered dietitian to help plan out a dietary plan that will benefit your health.
References
- Linus Pauling Institute; Vitamin A; Jane Higdon; 2007.
- "American Family Physician"; Preventive Strategies in Chronic Liver Disease: Part I. Alcohol, Vaccines, Toxic Medications and Supplements, Diet and Exercise; Riley and Bhatti; 2001.
- University of Illinois Medical Center; Diet For Liver Disease; Lanette Meyer; 2007.
