Excessive intake of vitamin A has a number of contraindications, of particular concern for pregnant or lactating women. Also, many people tend to eat more carrots in summer, one of the foods that has a high vitamin A content, which can produce some visual effects on your body. In this article OneHowTo explains the contraindications of vitamin A, so that you are aware of the dangers of taking it to excess.
"Hypervitaminosis" refers to an excess intake of vitamins. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient that is stored in the body when large quantities of it are taken. The liver in particular stores excess, so one of the contraindications of vitamin A has to do with liver function.
However, toxicity resulting from abuse of vitamin A is very rare because an adult would need to consume more than twenty five thousand units a day for more than 6 years. People most at risk of any of the symptoms are those that take some specific medicine or regularly eat liver oils.
Some of the side effects of vitamin A in adults are:
- Nervous disorders
- Dizziness and/or vomiting
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Blurred vision
- Lack of appetite and weight loss
- Onset of osteoporosis
Overconsumption of Vitamin A is contraindicated in pregnancy and in children, and in particular for infants that are still breastfeeding. The reason is that, in infants this nutrient can cause bulging fontanels due to pressure in the skull. In addition, it can cause vomiting and lack of appetite. It is therefore recommended that women who are breastfeeding to control intake of vitamin A.
When a woman is pregnant, she should also be careful when taking these foods because, if her daily intake exceeds ten thousand units, there's a risk that the fetus develops and is born with malformations.
We have already noted above that many people, on the arrival of summer, increase consumption of beta carotene, a nutrient that is derived from vitamin A. This is done to accelerate tanning of the skin but, if consumed to excess, you may notice your skin becoming too pigmented, as well as the appearance of brown or orange spots, especially in areas such as the hands or feet. It is also possible that the usual tone of your genitals fluids appear darker or orangey, due to excessive beta-carotene.
In addition to these signs that we discussed earlier, it is true that if you decrease your intake of vitamin A, some of these effects can become chronic and removing them becomes impossible. Therefore, as soon as you notice some symptoms, check your eating habits and see a doctor to advice on healthy living. Vitamin A can lead to chronic conditions such as:
- Flaky and dry skin
- Reluctance, fatigue and tiredness
- Hair loss
- Moodiness and irritability
However, as noted above, vitamin A intake should be high to experience these symptoms. In the right and usual doses, this nutrient is very favorable for the proper functioning of our body. This is due to the fact that it boosts defenses, improves bone and teeth growth, helps sexual performance - with more regular cycles and with higher quality sperm.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
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