vitamin A excess

Vitamin A excess, also known as hypervitaminosis A, is a toxic condition resulting from a high intake of vitamin A, typically 150,000 micrograms daily over several months. Unlike water-soluble vitamins, vitamin A is fat-soluble and is stored in the liver, potentially reaching toxic levels.1

Symptoms of vitamin A toxicity can include nausea, hair loss, dry and scaling skin, bone pain, fatigue, blurred vision, and headaches. In infants, it may manifest as growth failure and irritability. Pregnant women taking excess vitamin A or its derivatives, like isotretinoin for acne, risk causing birth defects. While carotene, a plant-based form of vitamin A, is not toxic, high levels can cause a yellowish skin discoloration called carotenemia. Prognosis is generally good if vitamin A intake is reduced.12