vitamin A toxicity

vitamin A poisoning

A potentially fatal condition evoked by an acute or chronic excess of vitamin A (> 20,000 IU) for more than two weeks.

Clinical findings
Bone pain, dry skin, gastrointestinal complaints (nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea), increased intracranial pressure, poor growth in children; affected infants may develop bulging fontanelles, craniotabes (softening of skull bones), pseudotumour cerebri, papilledema, drowsiness, severe headaches, insomnia, jaundice, menstrual disorders, stress, weight loss, irritability, decreased appetite, pruritis, hair loss, seborrhoea, and cracking at corners of mouth.

vitamin A toxicity

Hypervitaminosis A, vitamin A intoxication Nutrition A potentially fatal condition evoked by an acute or chronic excess of vitamin A Clinical Bone pain, dry skin, GI complaints–N&V, constipation, diarrhea; ↑ intracranial pressure, poor growth in children, affected infants may develop bulging fontanelles, craniotabes–softening of skull bones, pseudotumor cerebri, papilledema, drowsiness, severe headaches, insomnia, jaundice, menstrual disorders, stress, weight loss, as well as irritability, ↓ appetite, pruritus, hair loss, seborrhea, cracking at corners of mouth. See Vitamin A.

References in periodicals archive ?

As for vitamin A toxicity, it can occur with long-term consumption of 20 mg of retinol or more per day.

Vitamin toxicity

Generally, it's been assumed that the body has built-in safeguards to avoid vitamin A toxicity.

Get the facts straight to improve bone health

The symptoms of vitamin A toxicity include vomiting, irritability, bulging anterior fontanelles, headache, pseudotumor cerebri, dry skin, abdominal pain, myalgias, emotional instability, insomnia, arthralgias, cortical thickening of hands and feet, and hepatosplenomegaly.

Watch nutrient levels in preemies sent home

Early symptoms of chronic vitamin A toxicity include thinning of the hair and eyebrows, cracked lips, and dry, rough skin.

Advice for dancers

Excess Vitamin A can lead to hypervitaminosis A or Vitamin A toxicity.

Vitamin A toxicity can lead to abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, papilledema, and bulging fontanelle.

Genetically Engineered Vitamin A Rice: A Blind Approach to Blindness Prevention

Excess beta-carotene does not produce vitamin A toxicity, because no more of it is converted to vitamin A than the body requires.

Vitamins and minerals: passing fads or keys to health?

Two other experiments are using beta-carotene-rich red palm oil as a possible preventive, in an attempt to avoid vitamin A toxicity.