Vitamin A, also called retinol, plays an important role in your health. Vitamin A in your body helps to promote cellular maturation, contributing to the development of several tissues in your body. In addition, the vitamins helps maintain healthy skin, maintains your vision and plays a role in immunity. Cod liver oil serves as a rich source of vitamin A, but taking large amounts of the oil can lead to a vitamin overdose. Talk to your doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements.
Vitamin A Level in Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil contains high levels of vitamin A, with each tablespoon of the oil containing 13,600 IU of the vitamin -- around 4.5 times the recommended daily intake for an adult male and almost 6 times the recommended intake for a woman. Most of the vitamin A within cod liver oil is in a form readily available to your body, instead of the safer vitamin A carotene found in plants that requires processing before use and does not typically contribute to vitamin overdose. As a result, you face the risk of an overdose from consuming too much cod liver oil.
Vitamin A Upper Tolerable Intake
When determining an appropriate dosage of cod liver oil, you should consider your upper tolerable intake level for vitamin A to help prevent a vitamin A overdose. Exceeding your upper tolerable intake can increase your risk of vitamin toxicity over time. Adults should not exceed 10,000 IU of vitamin A each day, while adolescents should not exceed an intake 9333 IU daily, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. This figure represents your total vitamin A intake, from cod liver oil, dietary sources and any other supplements you may take.
Effects of Vitamin A Overdose
There are two types of vitamin A overdose, also called hypervitaminosis A: acute and chronic. Acute hypervitaminosis A occurs following an especially large dose of vitamin A, while chronic hypervitamonosis A develops after overconsuming vitamin A for a longer period of time. The vitamin toxicity can affect your bones, leading to a softening of the skull in children, as well as bone pain in adults. In addition, you may develop scaly, abnormally oily skin or even begin to lose skin via peeling. Hypervitaminosis A can also cause a buildup of fluid in your skull, leading to headaches, vomiting and visual disturbances.
Avoiding A Vitamin A Overdose
You can avoid a vitamin A overdose by staying aware of how cod liver oil and total vitamin A you consume each day. Talk to your doctor before taking cod liver oil supplements, and consume the oil as recommended by your physician. Avoid combining dietary supplements, since the combination of cod liver oil and other vitamin supplements might cause vitamin A overdose. Finally, if you develop any symptoms of vitamin A overdose, stop taking the oil immediately and seek medical attention.
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