Vitamin A, IU

In areas where vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a public health concern, the maternal dietary intake of vitamin A may be not sufficient to meet either the maternal nutritional requirements, or those of the breastfed infant, due the low retinol concentrations in breast milk.

Vitamin A supplementation for postpartum women.

Vitamin A hepatotoxicity has been reported at doses exceeding 50,000 IU/day. At 25,000 IU vitamin A per day, although elevated liver enzymes may be seen, hepatotoxicity is rare. We report a case of severe hepatotoxicity associated with the habitual daily ingestion of 25,000 IU of vitamin A bought as an over-the-counter dietary supplement. With the general availability of high-dose supplements and recent literature emphasizing the importance of vitamin A adequacy, the potential for vitamin A hepatotoxicity may increase. Health professionals should remain aware of the potential for vitamin A hepatotoxicity and elicit a vitamin A history in all patients being evaluated for liver dysfunction.

Vitamin A hepatotoxicity: a cautionary note regarding 25,000 IU supplements.

In vitamin A deficient populations, the amount of vitamin A may be insufficient for maintenance of maternal health and levels in breast milk may be insufficient for breastfeeding infants' needs.

Vitamin A adequacy is discussed in terms of the recommended allowances appropriate for the needs of the majority of individuals. Deficiency can result in xerophthalmia and permanent blindness and in increased mortality rates among children. Toxicity has been associated with the overconsumption of vitamin A supplements. Acute hypervitaminosis A may occur after ingestion of greater than or equal to 500,000 IU (over 100 times the RDA) by adults or proportionately less by children. Symptoms are usually reversible on cessation of overdosing. Factors influencing chronic hypervitaminosis A include dosing regimen, physical form of the vitamin, general health status, dietary factors such as ethanol and protein intake, and interactions with vitamins C, D, E, and K. Both excess and deficiency of vitamin A in pregnant animals was shown to be teratogenic. In humans, congenital malformations associated with maternal over-use of high doses of vitamin A were reported but no cause-and-effect relationship has been established. Deficiency of the vitamin during pregnancy has also been associated with congenital abnormalities. Reported incidences of vitamin A toxicity are rare and have averaged fewer than 10 cases per year from 1976 to 1987.

Safety of vitamin A.

Recent changes to the iPLEDGE platform left providers without the ability to prescribe isotretinoin to their patients. A potential substitute for isotretinoin could be beneficial when the drug is unavailable. Prior to the FDA approval of isotretinoin, a vitamin A derivative, vitamin A was studied for its use in acne management.

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Vitamin A, IU

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