BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHypervitaminosis AVitamin A toxicityHypervitaminosis A is a disorder in which there is too much vitamin A in the body.Vitamin AVitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the liver. There are two types of vitamin A that are found in the diet. Preformed vitamin A is f...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the liver. Many foods contain vitamin A, including:Meat, fish, and egg yolks Dairy products Some fruits and vegetablesSome dietary supplements also contain vitamin A.Taking too many supplements is the most common cause of vitamin A toxicity. It tends not to occur just from eating vitamin A-rich foods.Too much vitamin A can make you sick. Taking large doses during pregnancy can cause birth defects.Acute vitamin A poisoning occurs quickly. It can happen when an adult takes several hundred thousand international units (IUs) of vitamin A. Chronic vitamin A poisoning may occur over time in adults who regularly take more than 25,000 IUs a day. ChronicChronic refers to something that continues over an extended period of time. A chronic condition is usually long-lasting and does not easily or quick...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Babies and children are more sensitive to vitamin A. They can become sick after taking smaller doses of it. Swallowing products that contain vitamin A, such as skin cream with retinol in it, can also cause vitamin A poisoning. Symptoms Symptoms may include:Abnormal softening of the skull bone (in infants and children) Blurred vision Bone pain or swelling Bone painBone pain or tenderness is aching or other discomfort in one or more bones.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article SwellingSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bulging of the soft spot in an infant's skull (fontanelle) FontanelleA bulging fontanelle is an outward curving of an infant's soft spot (fontanelle).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Changes in alertness or consciousness Decreased appetite Decreased appetiteA decreased appetite is when your desire to eat is reduced. The medical term for a loss of appetite is anorexia.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Dizziness DizzinessDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Double vision (in young children) Drowsiness Hair changes, such as hair loss and oily hair Headache HeadacheA headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Irritability Liver damage Nausea and vomiting Poor weight gain (in infants and children) Skin changes, such as cracking at corners of the mouth, higher sensitivity to sunlight, oily skin, peeling, itching, and yellow color to the skin Vision changes Exams and Tests These tests may be done if a high vitamin A level is suspected:Bone x-rays Blood calcium test Cholesterol test Liver function test Liver function testLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood test to check vitamin A level Vitamin AThe vitamin A test measures the level of vitamin A in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood test to check other vitamin levels Treatment Treatment involves simply stopping supplements (or in rare cases, foods) that contain vitamin A. Outlook (Prognosis) Most people fully recover. Possible Complications Complications can include:Very high calcium level Failure to thrive (in infants) Failure to thriveFailure to thrive refers to children whose current weight or rate of weight gain is much lower than that of other children of similar age and sex....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney damage due to high calcium Liver damage Taking too much vitamin A during pregnancy may cause birth defects. Talk to your health care provider about eating a proper diet while you are pregnant. When to Contact a Medical Professional You should contact your provider:If you think that you or your child may have taken too much vitamin A You have symptoms of excess vitamin A Prevention How much vitamin A you need depends on your age and sex. Other factors, such as pregnancy and your overall health, are also important. Ask your provider what amount is best for you.To avoid hypervitaminosis A, don't take more than the recommended daily allowance of this vitamin. Check the ingredients of all your medicines to be sure you are not taking vitamin A from more than one source.Some people take vitamin A and beta carotene supplements in the belief it will help prevent cancer. This may lead to chronic hypervitaminosis A if people take more than is recommended.Open ReferencesReferencesInstitute of Medicine (US) Panel on Micronutrients. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2001. PMID: 25057538 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25057538/.James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM. Nutritional diseases. In: James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 22.Mason JB, Booth SL. Vitamins, trace minerals, and other micronutrients. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 199.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion website. Dietary reference intakes. health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/dietary-guidelines/dietary-reference-intakes. Updated January 18, 2023. Accessed March 22, 2024.Ross AC. Vitamin A deficiencies and excess. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 61.Sodi R. Vitamins and trace elements. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham Carey-Ann D, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 39.AllVideoImagesTogVitamin A source - illustration Like most vitamins, vitamin A may be obtained in the recommended amount with a well-balanced diet, including some enriched or fortified foods.Vitamin A sourceillustrationVitamin A source - illustration Like most vitamins, vitamin A may be obtained in the recommended amount with a well-balanced diet, including some enriched or fortified foods.Vitamin A sourceillustrationRelated Information Vitamin A(Nutrition)Brain tumor - children(Condition)Idiopathic intracranial hypertension(Condition)Vision problems(Symptoms)Nausea and vomiting – adults(Symptoms)Drowsiness(Symptoms)Chronic(Special Topic)Bone pain or tenderness(Symptoms)Appetite - decreased(Symptoms)Weight gain – unintentional(Symptoms)Vitamins and Phytonutrients - InDepth(In-Depth)Brain tumors - primary - InDepth(In-Depth)Osteoporosis - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 2/28/2024 Reviewed By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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Hypervitaminosis AVitamin A toxicityHypervitaminosis A is a disorder in which there is too much vitamin A in the body.Vitamin AVitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the liver. There are two types of vitamin A that are found in the diet. Preformed vitamin A is f...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the liver. Many foods contain vitamin A, including:Meat, fish, and egg yolks Dairy products Some fruits and vegetablesSome dietary supplements also contain vitamin A.Taking too many supplements is the most common cause of vitamin A toxicity. It tends not to occur just from eating vitamin A-rich foods.Too much vitamin A can make you sick. Taking large doses during pregnancy can cause birth defects.Acute vitamin A poisoning occurs quickly. It can happen when an adult takes several hundred thousand international units (IUs) of vitamin A. Chronic vitamin A poisoning may occur over time in adults who regularly take more than 25,000 IUs a day. ChronicChronic refers to something that continues over an extended period of time. A chronic condition is usually long-lasting and does not easily or quick...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Babies and children are more sensitive to vitamin A. They can become sick after taking smaller doses of it. Swallowing products that contain vitamin A, such as skin cream with retinol in it, can also cause vitamin A poisoning. Symptoms Symptoms may include:Abnormal softening of the skull bone (in infants and children) Blurred vision Bone pain or swelling Bone painBone pain or tenderness is aching or other discomfort in one or more bones.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article SwellingSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bulging of the soft spot in an infant's skull (fontanelle) FontanelleA bulging fontanelle is an outward curving of an infant's soft spot (fontanelle).ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Changes in alertness or consciousness Decreased appetite Decreased appetiteA decreased appetite is when your desire to eat is reduced. The medical term for a loss of appetite is anorexia.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Dizziness DizzinessDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Double vision (in young children) Drowsiness Hair changes, such as hair loss and oily hair Headache HeadacheA headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Irritability Liver damage Nausea and vomiting Poor weight gain (in infants and children) Skin changes, such as cracking at corners of the mouth, higher sensitivity to sunlight, oily skin, peeling, itching, and yellow color to the skin Vision changes Exams and Tests These tests may be done if a high vitamin A level is suspected:Bone x-rays Blood calcium test Cholesterol test Liver function test Liver function testLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood test to check vitamin A level Vitamin AThe vitamin A test measures the level of vitamin A in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood test to check other vitamin levels Treatment Treatment involves simply stopping supplements (or in rare cases, foods) that contain vitamin A. Outlook (Prognosis) Most people fully recover. Possible Complications Complications can include:Very high calcium level Failure to thrive (in infants) Failure to thriveFailure to thrive refers to children whose current weight or rate of weight gain is much lower than that of other children of similar age and sex....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney damage due to high calcium Liver damage Taking too much vitamin A during pregnancy may cause birth defects. Talk to your health care provider about eating a proper diet while you are pregnant. When to Contact a Medical Professional You should contact your provider:If you think that you or your child may have taken too much vitamin A You have symptoms of excess vitamin A Prevention How much vitamin A you need depends on your age and sex. Other factors, such as pregnancy and your overall health, are also important. Ask your provider what amount is best for you.To avoid hypervitaminosis A, don't take more than the recommended daily allowance of this vitamin. Check the ingredients of all your medicines to be sure you are not taking vitamin A from more than one source.Some people take vitamin A and beta carotene supplements in the belief it will help prevent cancer. This may lead to chronic hypervitaminosis A if people take more than is recommended.Open ReferencesReferencesInstitute of Medicine (US) Panel on Micronutrients. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2001. PMID: 25057538 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25057538/.James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM. Nutritional diseases. In: James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 22.Mason JB, Booth SL. Vitamins, trace minerals, and other micronutrients. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 199.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion website. Dietary reference intakes. health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/dietary-guidelines/dietary-reference-intakes. Updated January 18, 2023. Accessed March 22, 2024.Ross AC. Vitamin A deficiencies and excess. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 61.Sodi R. Vitamins and trace elements. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham Carey-Ann D, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 39.