Does Vitamin A Lower Iron In The Liver?

Your body uses the majority of iron in your body to produce hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen. Vitamin A supports a healthy immune system, keeps your vision sharp and aids in normal growth and development. These two essential nutrients do interact with one another in one function. Vitamin A facilitates the release of iron from storage sites to promote continued development of healthy red blood cells, which means that vitamin A lowers the amount of iron in the liver.

Relationship

Iron-deficiency anemia is a common condition that affects approximately 30 percent of the world's population, according to the World Health Organization. Iron-deficiency anemia causes extreme fatigue, increases the risk for birth defects, interferes with growth and development in children and contributes to 20 percent of maternal deaths. Patients with iron deficiency may also suffer from other nutrient deficiencies. A vitamin A deficiency can contribute to worsening the iron-deficiency anemia, making treatment more complex.

Vitamin A, Iron and the Liver

Your body stores excess iron in the liver. If the level of iron in the blood drops, your liver can release iron to support the production of healthy red blood cells and avoid the onset of iron-deficiency anemia. In cases of a vitamin A deficiency; however, the anemia occurs even when the liver contains adequate amounts of iron, according to research published in the May 1984 issue of "The Journal of Nutrition." This study examined the interaction between iron and vitamin A and determined that a vitamin A deficiency inhibits the release or iron from the liver, causing the liver to contain high amounts of iron. Adequate amounts of vitamin A in your diet reduce the amount of iron in your liver.

Recommended Intake

To maintain healthy iron levels, the Institute of Medicine recommends men and post-menopausal women intake at least 8 mg of iron per day while pre-menopausal women need at least 18 mg of iron per day. To treat a deficiency and because your body does not absorb all of the iron, supplements provide 50 to 60 mg of elemental iron and should be taken twice a day, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. When treating iron-deficiency anemia it is important to determine if you also suffer from vitamin A deficiency. To avoid vitamin A deficiency, adult men should intake 900 micrograms and adult women 700 micrograms of vitamin A per day.

Impact

The impact of iron-deficiency anemia world-wide remains an issue of concern. Patients with anemia have an increased risk for infections, which affects health care system and reduces work capacity. These two factors contribute to serious economic consequences. The World Health Organization developed a plan to address iron-deficiency anemia. This plan goes beyond trying to treat the anemia with iron supplements. It encourages dietary diversification to increase the intake of iron-rich foods, enhance iron absorption and improve overall nutritional status to prevent other nutrient deficiencies such as vitamin A deficiency.