HealthAliciousNess.com
Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin A
Vitamin A is an essential vitamin required for vision, gene transcription, boosting immune function, and great skin health. A deficiency in vitamin A can lead to blindness and increased viral infection, however deficiency is only considered a problem in developing countries where it is a leading cause of blindness in children. Over consumption of vitamin A can lead to jaundice, nausea, loss of appetite, irritability, vomiting, and even hair loss. The current percent daily value for Vitamin A is 5000 international units (IU). Below is a list of foods high in Vitamin A. For more vitamin A foods see the extended list of vitamin A rich foods.
#1: Liver (Pâté)
The liver of any animal is packed with vitamins and minerals, and is best prepared steamed or fried with onions and herbs.
Turkey liver provides the most vitamin A with 75333IU (1507% DV) per 100 gram serving, or 62526IU (1250% DV) per liver.
The liver of most any animal will provide 1000%+ DV of vitamin A. A single tablespoon of pâté will provide
429 IU (9% DV) of vitamin A, and a teaspoon of Cod liver oil will provide 500IU (10% DV).
Click to see complete nutrition facts.
#2: Paprika, Red Pepper, Cayenne, Chili Powder
A tablespoon of paprika contains 3691IU (74% DV) for vitamin A, or 52735 IU (1055% DV) for a 100 gram serving.
Other red pepper powders have similar amounts with Cayenne powder providing 41610 IU (832% DV) per 100g or 2081IU (42% DV)
in a single tablespoon.
Click to see complete nutrition facts
#3: Sweet Potatoes
With their bright orange color sweet potatoes are packed with vitamin A. Sweet potatoes provide 19218IU (384% DV) of vitamin A per 100 gram serving,
or 38436IU (769% DV) in a cup of mashed sweet potato, and 21909IU (438% DV) in a medium sized sweet potato.
Click to see complete nutrition facts
#4: Carrots
Carrots are excellent cooked or as a snack. 100 grams of raw carrots provides 16706IU (334% DV) for vitamin A.
That is 10191IU (204% DV) for a medium sized carrot, and 2069IU (41% DV) for a single baby carrot.
Click to see complete nutrition facts
#5: Dark Leafy Greens
Crisp, fresh, and delicious,
dark leafy greens are great in a salad or steamed as a side.
As a bonus they are also high in calcium.
Kale provides the most vitamin A with 15376IU (308% DV) per 100g serving, 10302IU (206% DV) per cup.
It is followed by Turnip Greens (232% DV), Mustard Greens (210% DV), Dandelion Greens (203% DV), Spinach (188% DV),
and Collards (133% DV).
Click to see complete nutrition facts
#6: Butternut Squash
Dark orange squash has a delicious
nutty and sweet flavor. 100 grams baked provides 11155IU (223% DV) of vitamin A, or 22868IU (457% DV) per cup.
Click to see complete nutrition facts.
#7: Dried Herbs
Dried herbs are so packed with vitamins they appear on practically every
HealthAliciousNess Top 10 list.
Make it a habit to add a pinch of
dried herb to everything you prepare. Dried Parsley provides the most vitamin A with 10184IU (204% DV) per 100 gram serving,
or 204IU (4% DV) per tablespoon.
It is followed by Dried Basil (188% DV), Dried Marjoram (161% DV), Dill (154% DV), and Oregano (138% DV).
Click to see complete nutrition facts
#8: Lettuce
The kind of lettuce matters when it comes to vitamin A content.
Dark colorful lettuces provide the most vitamin A with Red and Green
Leaf lettuces providing 7492IU (150% DV) per 100 gram serving, 2098IU (42% DV) per cup shredded,
and 1274IU (25% DV) per leaf.
Iceberg only provides 502IU (10% DV) per 100g, 361IU (7% DV) per cup shredded, and 75IU (2% DV) per leaf.
Click to see complete nutrition facts.
#9: Dried Apricots
Dried apricots are a great portable snack food. 100 grams will provide 3604IU (72% DV) of vitamin A,
which is 4685IU (94% DV) per cup, and 144IU (6% DV) per dried apricot.
Click to see complete nutrition facts.
#10: Cantaloupe
Cantaloupe and other yellow/orange melons are a great source of vitamin A.
Cantaloupe provides 3382IU (68% DV) of vitamin A per 100 gram serving. That is 5986IU (120% DV) per cup of mellon balls,
or 2334IU (47% DV) in a medium sized wedge.
Click to see complete nutrition facts
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Other Vitamin A Rich Foods
| Papaya | 1094IU (22% DV) per 100 gram serving | 1532IU (31% DV) per cup cubed (140 grams) | 1663IU (33% DV) per small papaya (152 grams) | Click to see complete nutrition facts for Papaya |
| Mangoes | 765IU (15% DV) per 100 gram serving | 1262IU (25% DV) per cup sliced (165 grams) | 1584IU (32% DV) in an average mango (207 grams) | Click to see complete nutrition facts for Mangoes |
| Green Peas | 2100IU (42% DV) per 100 gram serving | 3360IU (68% DV) per cup (160 grams) | 1680IU (34% DV) in a half cup (80 grams) | Click to see complete nutrition facts for Cooked Green Peas |
| Tomatoes | 833IU (17% DV) per 100 gram serving | 1499IU (30% DV) per cup chopped (180 grams) | 1025IU (20% DV) in an average tomato (123 grams) | Click to see complete nutrition facts for Red Ripe Tomatoes |
| Peaches | 326IU (7% DV) per 100 gram serving | 502IU (10% DV) per cup sliced (154 grams) | 489IU (10% DV) in a medium sized peach (150 grams) | Click to see complete nutrition facts for Raw Peaches |
| Red Bell (Sweet) Peppers | 3131IU (63% DV) per 100 gram serving | 4665IU (93% DV) per cup chopped (149 grams) | 3726IU (75% DV) in a medium sized pepper (119 grams) | Click to see complete nutrition facts for Raw Red Bell Peppers |
| Fortified Skim (Non-Fat) Milk* | 204IU (4% DV) per 100 gram serving | 500IU (10% DV) per cup (245 grams) | 63IU (1% DV) in a fluid ounce (31 grams) | Click to see complete nutrition facts for Fortified Skim Milk |
| Whole Milk | 102IU (2% DV) per 100 gram serving | 249IU (5% DV) per cup (244 grams) | 32IU (1% DV) in a fluid ounce (31 grams) | Click to see complete nutrition facts for Whole Milk |
| Eggs (Yolks) | 538IU (11% DV) per 100 gram serving | 269IU (5% DV) in one large egg (50 grams) | 245IU (5% DV) in a large yolk (17 grams) | Click to see complete nutrition facts for Eggs |
| Oatmeal (Fortified) | 621IU (12% DV) per 100 gram serving | 1453IU (29% DV) per cup (234 grams) | 272IU (14% DV) in a half-cup (117 grams) | Click to see complete nutrition facts for Instant Fortified Oatmeal |
Health Benefits of Vitamin A
- Increased Protection from Bacterial and Viral Infections - Vitamin A is essential for healthy surface linings of the eyes, mucous membranes, respiratory, urinary, and intestinal tracts.3-6
- Proper Immune Functioning - Vitamin A is essential to regulate the immune system, and plays a key role in making white blood cells which fight off infections in the body.4,5,7-9
- Cancer Protection (*Food Sources Only) - Studies suggest beta-carotene and vitamin A lower risk of many types of cancer.10 This effect could mainly be from a diet high in vegetables and not from supplements. Vitamin A supplements have been shown to increase risk of cancer.11-13
High Risk Groups for a Vitamin A Deficiency
- Alcoholics - Excessive consumption of alcohol can deplete levels of vitamin A in the body, and even moderate consumption can interfere with vitamin A absorption.
- Vegetarians and Vegans - Vegetarians and vegans who do not eat eggs and dairy foods need to consume at least 5 servings of either dark leafy greens or orange and yellow fruits and vegetables to meet their vitamin A needs.
-
People with Long Term Problems Absorbing Fat - Problems absorbing fat in the long term can lead to diarrhea and vitamin A deficiency.
This includes people with:
- Celiac disease - Gluten Intolerance
- Crohn's disease - Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Pancreatic disorders - The pancreas releases enzymes for proper digestion of fats
Recipes High in Vitamin A
Carrot Cucumber Salad with MintSpicy Lentil Cabbage
Wine Steamed Kale
Burghul A Banadoura
Warnings
- Liver and whole milk are high cholesterol foods which should be eaten in moderate amounts and avoided by people at risk of heart disease or stroke.
Buy High Vitamin A Foods from Amazon.com
Paprika, Chili Powder, Liver Pâté, Dried Herbs, Dried Apricots.Comments.
| Name: | Hannah |
| Subject: | Supplement Health Risks |
| What if your taking multivitamin supplement which includes 100% of vitamins A B2 B5 B6 C D and E also contains 100% omega3 will it include any health risks? thankyou | |
| Posted on 2011-07-07 09:14:24 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Supplement Health Risks |
| Hi Hannah, thanks for your question. Provided you are healthy without a health condition and you are not taking a medication which could react wit the supplement then taking a supplement which provides no more than 100% of the DV should not be risky. As always getting your vitamins from whole foods is the safest and often, the cheapest source. | |
| Posted on 2011-07-07 09:31:51 |
| Name: | Whispering Sage |
| Location: | Northeastern California |
| Subject: | Vitamin A Mislabled |
| I find consistently that "experts" wrongly claim vitamin A to be be present in fruits and vegetables. This is scientifically wrong, and technically wrong. What fruits and vegetables have are "carotenes" which are previtamin A. That means, it doesn't turn into vitamin A (retinol) until it is activated by enzymes in the digestive system, and also must be accompanied by adequate fats for this to occur, (butter on carrots for example) If a person has an impairment of this sort in the digestive system (IBS, surgery in the past or other various imperfections that prevent this from happening,) all bets are off. That person is not going to turn their beta carotene into vitamin A and they are at risk for becoming deficient. This site as well as most other news sources are in constant violation of this principle, and I say shame. The only true source of vitamin A are animal, cod liver oil, and liver sources are the highest, also eggs. Used to be milk did but since cows aren't allowed out on fresh green grass anymore (confined indoors) they are also deficient and their milk cannot be considered a rich source as it once was. | |
| Posted on 2011-08-24 11:21:50 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A Mislabeled |
| Hi Whispering Sage, thanks for your thoughtful comment, and for pointing out this important distinction so well. While none of the fruits and vegetables truly contain vitamin A, their carotene precursors do get converted into vitamin A. The de facto inclusion of this conversion goes beyond experts and news sources and has been included in the nutrition facts released by the United States Agricultural Research Service (ARS) from where these and most other nutrition facts are sourced. So while it is a fair technical point, for all practical purposes, and in most cases, the foods listed here can and should be taken as great natural sources of vitamin A. | |
| Posted on 2011-08-24 11:30:18 |
| Name: | Akanksha |
| Location: | New Delhi, India |
| Subject: | White Spots & Ulcers |
| Hi, My husband has white spots on the inner cheek of his mouth and also gets regular ulcers. He has taken many medicines on doctor's advice but nothing seems to help. I read in a few websites that a diet rich in Vitamin-A will help. Is it true? | |
| Posted on 2011-09-07 15:57:07 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: White Spots & Ulcers |
| Hi Akanksha, thanks for your question. Vitamin A foods may help your husband's ulcers by boosting his immune system, but are unlikely to completely cure the ulcers. Your husband may be deficient in riboflavin (vitamin B2) and could benefit from eating more high vitamin B2 foods. | |
| Posted on 2011-09-07 16:02:10 |
| Name: | Pandibida |
| Location: | London |
| Subject: | Diet High in Vitamin A |
| Hi! Is there any risk with consuming more than your DV of vitamin A because of eating fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin A? | |
| Posted on 2011-09-11 12:01:46 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Diet High in Vitamin A |
| Hi Pandibida, thanks for your question. Vitamin A coming from plant sources, such as fruits and vegetables, is considered safe and it is extremely rare for any toxicity to occur. Fruits and vegetables contain carotenoids which are later converted to vitamin A. Most vitamin A toxicity occurs from meat sources like liver, or from consumption of supplements. Over consumption of high vitamin A from fruits and vegetables can lead to a slight yellow discoloration of the skin known as Carotenodermia. This condition only causes a slight change in skin color and is considered harmless. | |
| Posted on 2011-09-12 05:24:35 |
| Name: | Ashwini |
| Location: | India |
| Subject: | Pregnancy and Vitamin A |
| Hi, I have read that during pregnancy Vitamin A damages the foetus. So is it better to stay away from Vitamin A foods? | |
| Posted on 2011-10-30 23:43:59 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Pregnancy and Vitamin A |
| Hi Ashwini, thanks for your question. There is a very rare condition caused by excess intake of retinoids called fatal retinoid syndrome. To current knowledge, this disease only comes from synthetic forms of vitamin A, while the vitamin A which comes from foods is considered safe and is even essential for the proper developement of your child. Keep eating foods high in vitamin A, and if you are worried, avoid vitamin A supplements and pills unless your doctor advises you otherwise. | |
| Posted on 2011-10-31 18:23:43 |
| Name: | Fortune |
| Location: | Nigeria |
| Subject: | Vitamin A and HIV |
| How often should someone living with HIV take food and fruit that contains vitamin A and what type of food and fruit is recommended for such a person? | |
| Posted on 2011-12-29 18:38:51 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A and HIV |
| Hi Fortune, thanks for your question. Since vitamin A boosts your immune system, it would be a good idea to eat as many vitamin A foods as possible. Some studies also show that vitamin C foods and vitamin E foods can help. This is due to the antioxidants in the foods. This study found that vitamin E foods are more effective in slowing the progression of HIV-1 than vitamin A. | |
| Posted on 2012-01-04 10:17:35 |
| Name: | Denverite |
| Location: | Denver |
| Subject: | Vitamin A and Acne |
| Hello, Can eating foods high in Vitamin A help in controlling or preventing acne flare ups? | |
| Posted on 2012-01-10 08:21:31 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A and Acne |
| Hello and thanks for your question. Some derivatives of vitamin A are used in treatment of acne, both topically in the form of a cream and orally in the form of a medicine. These treatments however, do have side effects and are not the same as eating foods high in vitamin A. Eating high vitamin A foods is still likely to help a little bit with acne, as well as eating more fruits and vegetables. Studies suggest that eating high sugar foods strongly correlates with increasing acne. Thus, avoiding foods high in sugar is likely the most effective dietary change you can make to help your acne. | |
| Posted on 2012-01-10 09:42:40 |
| Name: | Vivaroo |
| Location: | Brisbane |
| Subject: | Vegetarians - Risk of Vit A deficiency |
| You mention vegetarians & vegans would need at least 5 servings of veg daily so not to be deficient in Vit A if not eating animal sources. If one medium carrot has 204% DV of Vit A, why need more? Eating 5+ serves of veg is no problem for me, just curious. Thank you. | |
| Posted on 2012-02-17 22:14:46 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vegetarians - Risk of Vit A deficiency |
| Hi Vivaroo, thanks for your question. Animal foods contain preformed vitamin A that can be readily absorbed, while plant foods contain provitamin A carotenoids that have to be converted into vitamin A by the body. For simplicity, the estimated conversion of carotenoids is quoted as the content of vitamin A for any fruit, vegetable, or plant food; however, the actual conversion can vary widely and depends on various factors such as how much fat is consumed with the food, and on a person's own digestive system. Thus, to be safe, vegetarians and vegans should consume plenty of vitamin A foods to be sure they meet their daily requirement. | |
| Posted on 2012-02-18 15:26:03 |
| Name: | Arindam |
| Location: | Bangalore, India |
| Subject: | Halibut Liver Oil |
| We give our son almost all the fruits and vegetables listed above for Vitamin A. However, would you suggest Halibut Liver Oil instead and a preferred dosage please??? He is 4 and a half years... | |
| Posted on 2012-02-19 09:09:00 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Halibut Liver Oil |
| Hi Arindam, thanks for your question. As long as your son is not showing any signs of vitamin A deficiency he is probably fine and you do not need to supplement with Halibut liver oil. Currently there is no nutrient data on Halibut liver oil, but Cod liver oil will provide 500IU, 10% of the DV per teaspoon. If you must supplement, a teaspoon would be a good dosage. Check the nutrition label of your Halibut liver oil to be sure. | |
| Posted on 2012-02-19 14:01:52 |
| Name: | Lana |
| Location: | South Africa |
| Subject: | Hair Loss |
| Hi, I am 28 years old and recently experiencing more than usual hair loss. Me and my husband eat mostly red meat and starch. Will the intake of more fruit and veg help cure my hair loss? | |
| Posted on 2012-02-23 04:18:16 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Hair Loss |
| Hi Lana, thanks for your question. Hair loss has many causes, and may be due to excess vitamin A. This typically is from vitamin A supplements in excess of 20,000IU. Hair loss can also be caused by a deficiency in zinc, and/or selenium. Try eat more zinc foods, and selenium foods to see if your condition improves after a couple weeks. Hope that helps. | |
| Posted on 2012-02-23 18:25:01 |
| Name: | Anonymous |
| Subject: | Vitamin A and Warts |
| Hi, I've been struggeling with plantar warts for 5+ years. I've tried everything under the sun from doctors to alternative. My warts seem to spread everytime I try to treat them. I've read about vitamin A in large amounts for 1 month internally will cure them. Also, puncturing a vitamin A supplement and applying in topically. What are you thoughts? Thanks so much. | |
| Posted on 2012-03-03 21:25:24 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A and Warts |
| Hi thanks for your question. First off, you want to be careful with consuming large amounts of any supplement. If you are going to increase your intake of vitamin A try to use natural sources, and even then, do so with caution. In regards to applying vitamin A topically, there is one study which found that an ointment with 2% vitamin A applied topically cured 17 of 50 people with plantar warts, that means about a third of the people were cured. You could try it and see if it works for you. Amazon sells an ointment with vitamin A for about $4. Not sure if it is the same potency as the ointment used in the study, but it could be worth a try and cheaper than supplements. | |
| Posted on 2012-03-03 21:34:17 |
| Name: | Halle |
| Location: | Trinidad |
| Subject: | Headaches |
| Can foods rich in vitamin A assist in curing constant headaches caused from computer glare? | |
| Posted on 2012-03-19 18:11:50 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Headaches |
| Hi Halle, thanks for your question. Vitamin A is good for your eyes, but there have been no studies to suggest that it can help reduce headaches from computer glare. You can try flux, which is a free program to adjust your computers brightness to the time of day. You can also try purchase an anti-glare screen. | |
| Posted on 2012-03-19 19:20:10 |
| Name: | Julia |
| Location: | United States |
| Subject: | Tiny Skin Bumps |
| Hi, I have tiny bumps all over the back of my upper arms, sometimes on the front of my thighs, and the back of my calves. They are occasionally itchy. I read that this skin condition could be caused by a deficiency in Vitamin A. Is this true? I am currently breastfeeding, but have never had these bumps until a few months ago. Will eating sweet potatoes help, or would cod liver oil be more effective? | |
| Posted on 2012-05-03 15:45:11 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Tiny Skin Bumps |
| Hi Julia, thanks for your question. There is a condition called Keratosis Pilaris which some people believe can be triggered by a vitamin A deficiency. However, the U.S. National Library of Medicine does not mention vitamin A deficieny as a cause on their Keratosis Pilaris page. Rather, your condition can be caused by genetics, or dry air. You can try various lotions and some sources recommend adding vitamin A as a cream topically. As you are breastfeeding you need to be sure you get enough (but not too much) vitamin A for your baby. For now, try having a sweet potato and another vitamin A food to see if your skin improves. Adding butter, olive oil, or some fat to the food you eat will help absorption of vitamin A. | |
| Posted on 2012-05-08 04:13:51 |
| Name: | K.Vee.Shanker |
| Location: | Chennai, India |
| Subject: | Why is Onion left out? |
| I'm surprised that the vegetable Red Onion (aka Allium) is left out in the list. It is a regular vegetable with Asians, and is said to be rich in Vitamin A, similar to animal products. I've a question too: Why is a sythetic vitamin A supplement toxic after a certain level while the natural one is practically harmless? | |
| Posted on 2012-05-22 03:06:25 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Why is Onion left out? |
| Hi K. Vee thanks for your question. Red onions are not in the nutrition facts database, however, ordinary raw onions do not contain any vitamin A, and it is unlikely that red onions provide very much. In regards to your question about supplements, vitamin A found in most foods comes in a form which needs to be modified by the body to truely become vitamin A. This process allows the body to better regulate the level of vitamin A. The vitamin A found in the liver of certain animals, and supplements, is found in a certain form and concentration such that absorption cannot be easily mediated. | |
| Posted on 2012-05-22 03:33:08 |
| Name: | Murgatroyd |
| Location: | USA |
| Subject: | Beta Carotene |
| Research on provitamin A (beta carotene) suggests that beta carotene forms almost equal amounts of Vitamin A agonists and Vitamin A antagonists in the body. An antagonist competes for a vitamin's receptor site on the surface of cells and blocks the vitamin's effect. This may be the reason for the greater number of cancer and/or deaths in studies providing smokers with mega doses of beta carotene. | |
| Posted on 2012-05-25 23:05:01 |
| Name: | William Palmerini |
| Location: | Saugus, MA |
| Subject: | Psoriasis |
| What roll does vitiam A play in the healing or curing of psoriasis? If I eat more of the foods containing vitiam A would this be helpful in the treatment of this dreaded decease? Thank You. | |
| Posted on 2012-05-29 19:51:08 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Psoriasis |
| Hi William, thanks for your question. Vitamin A included in a cream/ointment and applied to the skin can be used to treat Psoriasis, however, eating vitamin A foods has not been shown to help. As your doctor may have suggested you might get the most benefit from a cortisone cream. | |
| Posted on 2012-05-29 22:48:12 |
| Name: | Ranu |
| Location: | Delhi |
| Subject: | Vitamin A and Breast Feeding |
| Good day, Is deficiency of vitamin A going to affect breast feeding, like a lower quantity of milk being produced? | |
| Posted on 2012-06-29 17:02:20 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A and Breast Feeding |
| Hi Ranu, thanks for your question. Adequate levels of Vitamin A is necessary for proper developement of your baby. Having a lower volume of breast milk is associated with vitamin A deficiency, but there have not been enough studies to confirm this. Basically, try to maintain adequate levels of vitamin A or supplement when breastfeeding. | |
| Posted on 2012-06-30 11:17:36 |
| Name: | Chucky |
| Location: | California,U.S. |
| Subject: | Vitamin A bad for livers? |
| In your opinion is vitamin A bad for your liver? I have a fatty liver & I read somewhere that vitamin A is damaging to your liver. Does this mean I have to watch out for all foods containing vitamin A? | |
| Posted on 2012-10-31 21:33:46 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A bad for livers? |
| Hi Chucky, thanks for your question. Not sure of your particular condition, but it is unlikely that eating vitamin A foods will have much effect. Vitamin A is stored in the liver, but it is well regulated by the body. You can have problems if you take a lot of vitamin A supplements, or eat a lot of vitamin A from liver, otherwise you should be fine. If you do have vitamin A toxicity, you should feel dizyness, nausea, headaches, and skin irritaion. Consult with your health care provider if you feel these symptoms, or if you feel you are having a problem with regulating you vitamin A storage. Otherwise, you should be fine eating foods high in vitamin A (excluding liver). | |
| Posted on 2012-10-31 23:54:05 |
| Name: | Orla |
| Location: | UK |
| Subject: | Too much vitamin A? |
| Hi, I'm 20 years old and for the past 3 weeks have been suffering from the bacterial mouth infection 'angular cheilitis'. I do eat the foods on your list and for the past 2 months I have been taking a multivitamin which contains 100% of my RDA of vitamin A. I read on a forum that an over consumption of vitamin A can flair up this infection, but irregardless of whether it was the cause of the angular cheilitis, would you advise stopping my multivitamin at the moment in case the excess of vitamin A in my diet is making the condition worse? (It's bad and painful at the moment) thanks for your advice. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-10 08:55:18 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Too much vitamin A? |
| Hi Orla, thanks for your question. Yes, too much vitamin A can cause this condition or make it worse. However, angular chelitis can also be caused by a lack of riboflavin (Vitamin B2), iron, or zinc. Maybe try to find a multi-vitamin without vitamin A, or eat more vitamin B2, iron, and zinc foods. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-12 02:59:33 |
| Name: | Ang |
| Location: | Canada |
| Subject: | Trying to AVOID Vitamin A |
| It has been suggested that I try to avoid Vitamin A. After an intentional 35lb weight loss in a 5 month period (tried to be healthy while doing this), I have been losing my hair for the past 7 months and it's still falling out. I have been told that Vitamin A can make this problem worse. Does this make sense? | |
| Posted on 2013-01-03 14:27:31 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Trying to AVOID Vitamin A |
| Hi Ang, thanks for your question. Excess vitamin A (typically 20,000IU+) from supplements has been associated with hair loss. Your hair loss may also be due to a deficiency in zinc or selenium. Try eat more zinc foods, and selenium foods to see if your condition improves after a couple weeks. Hope that helps. | |
| Posted on 2013-01-03 16:58:45 |
| Name: | DeSales Ward |
| Location: | Annapolis, MD |
| Subject: | Orange Skin and Absorption of Vitamin A |
| I was getting a massage a few years ago and the therapist noted that the bottoms of my feet were an orange color. She told me it was a sign that I'm not absorbing my Vitamin A and that it was depositing in my skin instead of being absorbed. I eat really, really healthy and consume a lot of fruits and vegetables but I am constantly battling severely dry skin. I do drink my share of water every day. I just can't figure it out. Do you think that statement is true? If so, what can I do? | |
| Posted on 2013-03-20 19:22:36 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Orange Skin and Absorption of Vitamin A |
| Hi DeSales, Thanks for your question. Carotenaemia is a harmless condition where the skin can become orange from too much beta carotene or vitamin A. Basically the therapist was incorrect in her deduction. Yellow skin, or carotenaemia, is typically caused by consuming too much vitamin A. In rarer cases, it can also be caused by failure of your body to properly metabolize carotenoids (vitamin A), and remove them from your body. This may have been what your therapist was referring too, but ether way, you should be absorbing plenty of vitamin A. | |
| Posted on 2013-03-20 21:02:25 |
| Name: | Heather |
| Location: | Pennsylvania |
| Subject: | Vitamin A and intracranial hypertension |
| Hi - I was recently diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and all the websites about it say to be careful and avoid vitamin A. I'm wondering if I should be avoiding spinach and carrots, or if I don't need to worry about that because they only contain beta carotene and my body can't make too much A from that. I know I'm supposed to avoid liver and animal versions of vitamin A. Have you any insight on this conundrum? I'm terrified to drink carrot juice and don't know if I need to be worried about it, and even my doctor seems confused about it due to the beta carotene / vitamin A confusion. | |
| Posted on 2013-03-27 09:36:18 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A and intracranial hypertension |
| Hi Heather, thanks for your question and sorry to hear of your condition. Basically it appears that intracranial hypertension can be caused and affected by vitamin A in high doses found in medications or supplements. Vitamin A from natural foods should be fine, that said, you may want to play it safe and limit vitamin A foods. Beta-carotene, which gets converted into vitamin A, should also be limited. So in other words, it is probably ok to eat a carrot each day, but avoid the carrot juice. Hope those thoughts help, and feel better soon. | |
| Posted on 2013-03-27 13:58:28 |
| Name: | Mike |
| Location: | Azerbaijan |
| Subject: | Beta carotene conversion |
| ...So how much of beta carotene is actually converted into vitamin A? I know absorption and digestion is involved, but is there a latest research that shows approximate numbers of conversion? Carrot is my major source of vitamin A. Thank you! | |
| Posted on 2013-03-30 13:32:52 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Beta carotene conversion |
| Hi Mike, thanks for your question. Since carrots do not naturally contain vitamin A, the vitamin A shown on the nutrition facts, and quoted in this article, takes into account the conversion of beta-carotene and other retinol equivalents. So the amount of vitamin A shown gives you a rough estimate of how much beta-carotene and other retinol equivalents get converted to vitamin A. Roughly speaking, 1 International Unit of vitamin A is equal to 0.6 micrograms (μg) of beta-carotene. Thus if an average carrot has 5053μg of beta-carotene, that would get converted, roughly speaking, to 3032IU of vitamin A, or 61% DV. This is from the beta-carotene only, and not counting other retinol equivalents. The U.S. Agricultural Research Service has a document relating to this, and how other nutrition facts are determined. | |
| Posted on 2013-03-30 23:34:42 |
| Name: | Mew |
| Location: | India |
| Subject: | Eggs |
| Is egg a source of vitamin A? | |
| Posted on 2013-04-30 09:03:07 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Eggs |
| Hi Mew, thanks for your question. Eggs are a good source of vitamin A, and have been added to the extended list of vitamin A rich foods. Almost all of the vitamin A in eggs is found in their yolks. In general, the darker yellow an egg yolk is, the more vitamin A it provides. Chickens which eat grass and vegetables (as opposed to grain), are more likely to produce eggs high in vitamin A. On average, a large egg provides 269IU (5% DV) of vitamin A. One large egg yolk will provide 245IU (5% DV). Here are the complete nutrition facts for eggs. | |
| Posted on 2013-05-01 03:24:06 |
| Name: | Brian |
| Location: | Texas, USA |
| Subject: | Alcohol and vitamin A |
| Hello, I read in a raw food book that limiting alcohol consumption is essential, since alcohol depletes vitamin A? Is this true? I have also been greatly reducing my addition of oils to food(mainly getting fats from plant sources flax meal, avocados, bananas, nuts, etc.), but this is the first I've heard about fats and vitamin A conversion. Are there other nutrients that require certain food combinations to absorb them and is there a list of such; especially if eating solely plant-based food diet? Thank you! | |
| Posted on 2013-05-09 18:25:32 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Alcohol and vitamin A |
| Hi Brian, thanks for your question. This study confirms that consuming alcohol, particularly in the long term, will deplete your vitamin A levels. Drinking alcohol while consuming vitamin A foods can also hinder absorption of vitamin A. As for the amount of nutrients which are better absorbed in combination, it is difficult to tell. Beyond absorption, many nutrients work together metabolically. To make a list of all these interactions would be a daunting task, but an article on the topic will be started here eventually. Till then, a general rule of thumb is to eat a diverse array of foods (fats, protein, carbs) together. This can still work for a raw plant-based diet, with the exception of vitamin B12 which can only be found naturally in animal products. | |
| Posted on 2013-05-10 04:06:12 |
| Name: | Intracranial Hypertension |
| Location: | United States of America |
| Subject: | Vitamin A Restricted Diet for Intracranial Hypertension and Headaches |
| I was researching foods high in vitamin A so that I may avoid them with my specific diet for Pseudotumor Cerebri or Intracranial Hypertension. My neurologist, neuro-opthamologist and neuro-surgeon are all in agreement that vitamin A in excess of 100% USDA would actually cause more cerebral spinal fluid to be made by the system which would defeat the whole purpose of treatment. I say this only for people who mentioned "headaches" as this was my first symptom. | |
| Posted on 2013-06-04 12:20:38 |
Comments.
| Name: | Hannah |
| Subject: | Supplement Health Risks |
| What if your taking multivitamin supplement which includes 100% of vitamins A B2 B5 B6 C D and E also contains 100% omega3 will it include any health risks? thankyou | |
| Posted on 2011-07-07 09:14:24 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Supplement Health Risks |
| Hi Hannah, thanks for your question. Provided you are healthy without a health condition and you are not taking a medication which could react wit the supplement then taking a supplement which provides no more than 100% of the DV should not be risky. As always getting your vitamins from whole foods is the safest and often, the cheapest source. | |
| Posted on 2011-07-07 09:31:51 |
| Name: | Whispering Sage |
| Location: | Northeastern California |
| Subject: | Vitamin A Mislabled |
| I find consistently that "experts" wrongly claim vitamin A to be be present in fruits and vegetables. This is scientifically wrong, and technically wrong. What fruits and vegetables have are "carotenes" which are previtamin A. That means, it doesn't turn into vitamin A (retinol) until it is activated by enzymes in the digestive system, and also must be accompanied by adequate fats for this to occur, (butter on carrots for example) If a person has an impairment of this sort in the digestive system (IBS, surgery in the past or other various imperfections that prevent this from happening,) all bets are off. That person is not going to turn their beta carotene into vitamin A and they are at risk for becoming deficient. This site as well as most other news sources are in constant violation of this principle, and I say shame. The only true source of vitamin A are animal, cod liver oil, and liver sources are the highest, also eggs. Used to be milk did but since cows aren't allowed out on fresh green grass anymore (confined indoors) they are also deficient and their milk cannot be considered a rich source as it once was. | |
| Posted on 2011-08-24 11:21:50 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A Mislabeled |
| Hi Whispering Sage, thanks for your thoughtful comment, and for pointing out this important distinction so well. While none of the fruits and vegetables truly contain vitamin A, their carotene precursors do get converted into vitamin A. The de facto inclusion of this conversion goes beyond experts and news sources and has been included in the nutrition facts released by the United States Agricultural Research Service (ARS) from where these and most other nutrition facts are sourced. So while it is a fair technical point, for all practical purposes, and in most cases, the foods listed here can and should be taken as great natural sources of vitamin A. | |
| Posted on 2011-08-24 11:30:18 |
| Name: | Akanksha |
| Location: | New Delhi, India |
| Subject: | White Spots & Ulcers |
| Hi, My husband has white spots on the inner cheek of his mouth and also gets regular ulcers. He has taken many medicines on doctor's advice but nothing seems to help. I read in a few websites that a diet rich in Vitamin-A will help. Is it true? | |
| Posted on 2011-09-07 15:57:07 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: White Spots & Ulcers |
| Hi Akanksha, thanks for your question. Vitamin A foods may help your husband's ulcers by boosting his immune system, but are unlikely to completely cure the ulcers. Your husband may be deficient in riboflavin (vitamin B2) and could benefit from eating more high vitamin B2 foods. | |
| Posted on 2011-09-07 16:02:10 |
| Name: | Pandibida |
| Location: | London |
| Subject: | Diet High in Vitamin A |
| Hi! Is there any risk with consuming more than your DV of vitamin A because of eating fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin A? | |
| Posted on 2011-09-11 12:01:46 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Diet High in Vitamin A |
| Hi Pandibida, thanks for your question. Vitamin A coming from plant sources, such as fruits and vegetables, is considered safe and it is extremely rare for any toxicity to occur. Fruits and vegetables contain carotenoids which are later converted to vitamin A. Most vitamin A toxicity occurs from meat sources like liver, or from consumption of supplements. Over consumption of high vitamin A from fruits and vegetables can lead to a slight yellow discoloration of the skin known as Carotenodermia. This condition only causes a slight change in skin color and is considered harmless. | |
| Posted on 2011-09-12 05:24:35 |
| Name: | Ashwini |
| Location: | India |
| Subject: | Pregnancy and Vitamin A |
| Hi, I have read that during pregnancy Vitamin A damages the foetus. So is it better to stay away from Vitamin A foods? | |
| Posted on 2011-10-30 23:43:59 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Pregnancy and Vitamin A |
| Hi Ashwini, thanks for your question. There is a very rare condition caused by excess intake of retinoids called fatal retinoid syndrome. To current knowledge, this disease only comes from synthetic forms of vitamin A, while the vitamin A which comes from foods is considered safe and is even essential for the proper developement of your child. Keep eating foods high in vitamin A, and if you are worried, avoid vitamin A supplements and pills unless your doctor advises you otherwise. | |
| Posted on 2011-10-31 18:23:43 |
| Name: | Fortune |
| Location: | Nigeria |
| Subject: | Vitamin A and HIV |
| How often should someone living with HIV take food and fruit that contains vitamin A and what type of food and fruit is recommended for such a person? | |
| Posted on 2011-12-29 18:38:51 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A and HIV |
| Hi Fortune, thanks for your question. Since vitamin A boosts your immune system, it would be a good idea to eat as many vitamin A foods as possible. Some studies also show that vitamin C foods and vitamin E foods can help. This is due to the antioxidants in the foods. This study found that vitamin E foods are more effective in slowing the progression of HIV-1 than vitamin A. | |
| Posted on 2012-01-04 10:17:35 |
| Name: | Denverite |
| Location: | Denver |
| Subject: | Vitamin A and Acne |
| Hello, Can eating foods high in Vitamin A help in controlling or preventing acne flare ups? | |
| Posted on 2012-01-10 08:21:31 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A and Acne |
| Hello and thanks for your question. Some derivatives of vitamin A are used in treatment of acne, both topically in the form of a cream and orally in the form of a medicine. These treatments however, do have side effects and are not the same as eating foods high in vitamin A. Eating high vitamin A foods is still likely to help a little bit with acne, as well as eating more fruits and vegetables. Studies suggest that eating high sugar foods strongly correlates with increasing acne. Thus, avoiding foods high in sugar is likely the most effective dietary change you can make to help your acne. | |
| Posted on 2012-01-10 09:42:40 |
| Name: | Vivaroo |
| Location: | Brisbane |
| Subject: | Vegetarians - Risk of Vit A deficiency |
| You mention vegetarians & vegans would need at least 5 servings of veg daily so not to be deficient in Vit A if not eating animal sources. If one medium carrot has 204% DV of Vit A, why need more? Eating 5+ serves of veg is no problem for me, just curious. Thank you. | |
| Posted on 2012-02-17 22:14:46 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vegetarians - Risk of Vit A deficiency |
| Hi Vivaroo, thanks for your question. Animal foods contain preformed vitamin A that can be readily absorbed, while plant foods contain provitamin A carotenoids that have to be converted into vitamin A by the body. For simplicity, the estimated conversion of carotenoids is quoted as the content of vitamin A for any fruit, vegetable, or plant food; however, the actual conversion can vary widely and depends on various factors such as how much fat is consumed with the food, and on a person's own digestive system. Thus, to be safe, vegetarians and vegans should consume plenty of vitamin A foods to be sure they meet their daily requirement. | |
| Posted on 2012-02-18 15:26:03 |
| Name: | Arindam |
| Location: | Bangalore, India |
| Subject: | Halibut Liver Oil |
| We give our son almost all the fruits and vegetables listed above for Vitamin A. However, would you suggest Halibut Liver Oil instead and a preferred dosage please??? He is 4 and a half years... | |
| Posted on 2012-02-19 09:09:00 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Halibut Liver Oil |
| Hi Arindam, thanks for your question. As long as your son is not showing any signs of vitamin A deficiency he is probably fine and you do not need to supplement with Halibut liver oil. Currently there is no nutrient data on Halibut liver oil, but Cod liver oil will provide 500IU, 10% of the DV per teaspoon. If you must supplement, a teaspoon would be a good dosage. Check the nutrition label of your Halibut liver oil to be sure. | |
| Posted on 2012-02-19 14:01:52 |
| Name: | Lana |
| Location: | South Africa |
| Subject: | Hair Loss |
| Hi, I am 28 years old and recently experiencing more than usual hair loss. Me and my husband eat mostly red meat and starch. Will the intake of more fruit and veg help cure my hair loss? | |
| Posted on 2012-02-23 04:18:16 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Hair Loss |
| Hi Lana, thanks for your question. Hair loss has many causes, and may be due to excess vitamin A. This typically is from vitamin A supplements in excess of 20,000IU. Hair loss can also be caused by a deficiency in zinc, and/or selenium. Try eat more zinc foods, and selenium foods to see if your condition improves after a couple weeks. Hope that helps. | |
| Posted on 2012-02-23 18:25:01 |
| Name: | Anonymous |
| Subject: | Vitamin A and Warts |
| Hi, I've been struggeling with plantar warts for 5+ years. I've tried everything under the sun from doctors to alternative. My warts seem to spread everytime I try to treat them. I've read about vitamin A in large amounts for 1 month internally will cure them. Also, puncturing a vitamin A supplement and applying in topically. What are you thoughts? Thanks so much. | |
| Posted on 2012-03-03 21:25:24 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A and Warts |
| Hi thanks for your question. First off, you want to be careful with consuming large amounts of any supplement. If you are going to increase your intake of vitamin A try to use natural sources, and even then, do so with caution. In regards to applying vitamin A topically, there is one study which found that an ointment with 2% vitamin A applied topically cured 17 of 50 people with plantar warts, that means about a third of the people were cured. You could try it and see if it works for you. Amazon sells an ointment with vitamin A for about $4. Not sure if it is the same potency as the ointment used in the study, but it could be worth a try and cheaper than supplements. | |
| Posted on 2012-03-03 21:34:17 |
| Name: | Halle |
| Location: | Trinidad |
| Subject: | Headaches |
| Can foods rich in vitamin A assist in curing constant headaches caused from computer glare? | |
| Posted on 2012-03-19 18:11:50 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Headaches |
| Hi Halle, thanks for your question. Vitamin A is good for your eyes, but there have been no studies to suggest that it can help reduce headaches from computer glare. You can try flux, which is a free program to adjust your computers brightness to the time of day. You can also try purchase an anti-glare screen. | |
| Posted on 2012-03-19 19:20:10 |
| Name: | Julia |
| Location: | United States |
| Subject: | Tiny Skin Bumps |
| Hi, I have tiny bumps all over the back of my upper arms, sometimes on the front of my thighs, and the back of my calves. They are occasionally itchy. I read that this skin condition could be caused by a deficiency in Vitamin A. Is this true? I am currently breastfeeding, but have never had these bumps until a few months ago. Will eating sweet potatoes help, or would cod liver oil be more effective? | |
| Posted on 2012-05-03 15:45:11 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Tiny Skin Bumps |
| Hi Julia, thanks for your question. There is a condition called Keratosis Pilaris which some people believe can be triggered by a vitamin A deficiency. However, the U.S. National Library of Medicine does not mention vitamin A deficieny as a cause on their Keratosis Pilaris page. Rather, your condition can be caused by genetics, or dry air. You can try various lotions and some sources recommend adding vitamin A as a cream topically. As you are breastfeeding you need to be sure you get enough (but not too much) vitamin A for your baby. For now, try having a sweet potato and another vitamin A food to see if your skin improves. Adding butter, olive oil, or some fat to the food you eat will help absorption of vitamin A. | |
| Posted on 2012-05-08 04:13:51 |
| Name: | K.Vee.Shanker |
| Location: | Chennai, India |
| Subject: | Why is Onion left out? |
| I'm surprised that the vegetable Red Onion (aka Allium) is left out in the list. It is a regular vegetable with Asians, and is said to be rich in Vitamin A, similar to animal products. I've a question too: Why is a sythetic vitamin A supplement toxic after a certain level while the natural one is practically harmless? | |
| Posted on 2012-05-22 03:06:25 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Why is Onion left out? |
| Hi K. Vee thanks for your question. Red onions are not in the nutrition facts database, however, ordinary raw onions do not contain any vitamin A, and it is unlikely that red onions provide very much. In regards to your question about supplements, vitamin A found in most foods comes in a form which needs to be modified by the body to truely become vitamin A. This process allows the body to better regulate the level of vitamin A. The vitamin A found in the liver of certain animals, and supplements, is found in a certain form and concentration such that absorption cannot be easily mediated. | |
| Posted on 2012-05-22 03:33:08 |
| Name: | Murgatroyd |
| Location: | USA |
| Subject: | Beta Carotene |
| Research on provitamin A (beta carotene) suggests that beta carotene forms almost equal amounts of Vitamin A agonists and Vitamin A antagonists in the body. An antagonist competes for a vitamin's receptor site on the surface of cells and blocks the vitamin's effect. This may be the reason for the greater number of cancer and/or deaths in studies providing smokers with mega doses of beta carotene. | |
| Posted on 2012-05-25 23:05:01 |
| Name: | William Palmerini |
| Location: | Saugus, MA |
| Subject: | Psoriasis |
| What roll does vitiam A play in the healing or curing of psoriasis? If I eat more of the foods containing vitiam A would this be helpful in the treatment of this dreaded decease? Thank You. | |
| Posted on 2012-05-29 19:51:08 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Psoriasis |
| Hi William, thanks for your question. Vitamin A included in a cream/ointment and applied to the skin can be used to treat Psoriasis, however, eating vitamin A foods has not been shown to help. As your doctor may have suggested you might get the most benefit from a cortisone cream. | |
| Posted on 2012-05-29 22:48:12 |
| Name: | Ranu |
| Location: | Delhi |
| Subject: | Vitamin A and Breast Feeding |
| Good day, Is deficiency of vitamin A going to affect breast feeding, like a lower quantity of milk being produced? | |
| Posted on 2012-06-29 17:02:20 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A and Breast Feeding |
| Hi Ranu, thanks for your question. Adequate levels of Vitamin A is necessary for proper developement of your baby. Having a lower volume of breast milk is associated with vitamin A deficiency, but there have not been enough studies to confirm this. Basically, try to maintain adequate levels of vitamin A or supplement when breastfeeding. | |
| Posted on 2012-06-30 11:17:36 |
| Name: | Chucky |
| Location: | California,U.S. |
| Subject: | Vitamin A bad for livers? |
| In your opinion is vitamin A bad for your liver? I have a fatty liver & I read somewhere that vitamin A is damaging to your liver. Does this mean I have to watch out for all foods containing vitamin A? | |
| Posted on 2012-10-31 21:33:46 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A bad for livers? |
| Hi Chucky, thanks for your question. Not sure of your particular condition, but it is unlikely that eating vitamin A foods will have much effect. Vitamin A is stored in the liver, but it is well regulated by the body. You can have problems if you take a lot of vitamin A supplements, or eat a lot of vitamin A from liver, otherwise you should be fine. If you do have vitamin A toxicity, you should feel dizyness, nausea, headaches, and skin irritaion. Consult with your health care provider if you feel these symptoms, or if you feel you are having a problem with regulating you vitamin A storage. Otherwise, you should be fine eating foods high in vitamin A (excluding liver). | |
| Posted on 2012-10-31 23:54:05 |
| Name: | Orla |
| Location: | UK |
| Subject: | Too much vitamin A? |
| Hi, I'm 20 years old and for the past 3 weeks have been suffering from the bacterial mouth infection 'angular cheilitis'. I do eat the foods on your list and for the past 2 months I have been taking a multivitamin which contains 100% of my RDA of vitamin A. I read on a forum that an over consumption of vitamin A can flair up this infection, but irregardless of whether it was the cause of the angular cheilitis, would you advise stopping my multivitamin at the moment in case the excess of vitamin A in my diet is making the condition worse? (It's bad and painful at the moment) thanks for your advice. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-10 08:55:18 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Too much vitamin A? |
| Hi Orla, thanks for your question. Yes, too much vitamin A can cause this condition or make it worse. However, angular chelitis can also be caused by a lack of riboflavin (Vitamin B2), iron, or zinc. Maybe try to find a multi-vitamin without vitamin A, or eat more vitamin B2, iron, and zinc foods. | |
| Posted on 2012-11-12 02:59:33 |
| Name: | Ang |
| Location: | Canada |
| Subject: | Trying to AVOID Vitamin A |
| It has been suggested that I try to avoid Vitamin A. After an intentional 35lb weight loss in a 5 month period (tried to be healthy while doing this), I have been losing my hair for the past 7 months and it's still falling out. I have been told that Vitamin A can make this problem worse. Does this make sense? | |
| Posted on 2013-01-03 14:27:31 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Trying to AVOID Vitamin A |
| Hi Ang, thanks for your question. Excess vitamin A (typically 20,000IU+) from supplements has been associated with hair loss. Your hair loss may also be due to a deficiency in zinc or selenium. Try eat more zinc foods, and selenium foods to see if your condition improves after a couple weeks. Hope that helps. | |
| Posted on 2013-01-03 16:58:45 |
| Name: | DeSales Ward |
| Location: | Annapolis, MD |
| Subject: | Orange Skin and Absorption of Vitamin A |
| I was getting a massage a few years ago and the therapist noted that the bottoms of my feet were an orange color. She told me it was a sign that I'm not absorbing my Vitamin A and that it was depositing in my skin instead of being absorbed. I eat really, really healthy and consume a lot of fruits and vegetables but I am constantly battling severely dry skin. I do drink my share of water every day. I just can't figure it out. Do you think that statement is true? If so, what can I do? | |
| Posted on 2013-03-20 19:22:36 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Orange Skin and Absorption of Vitamin A |
| Hi DeSales, Thanks for your question. Carotenaemia is a harmless condition where the skin can become orange from too much beta carotene or vitamin A. Basically the therapist was incorrect in her deduction. Yellow skin, or carotenaemia, is typically caused by consuming too much vitamin A. In rarer cases, it can also be caused by failure of your body to properly metabolize carotenoids (vitamin A), and remove them from your body. This may have been what your therapist was referring too, but ether way, you should be absorbing plenty of vitamin A. | |
| Posted on 2013-03-20 21:02:25 |
| Name: | Heather |
| Location: | Pennsylvania |
| Subject: | Vitamin A and intracranial hypertension |
| Hi - I was recently diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and all the websites about it say to be careful and avoid vitamin A. I'm wondering if I should be avoiding spinach and carrots, or if I don't need to worry about that because they only contain beta carotene and my body can't make too much A from that. I know I'm supposed to avoid liver and animal versions of vitamin A. Have you any insight on this conundrum? I'm terrified to drink carrot juice and don't know if I need to be worried about it, and even my doctor seems confused about it due to the beta carotene / vitamin A confusion. | |
| Posted on 2013-03-27 09:36:18 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Vitamin A and intracranial hypertension |
| Hi Heather, thanks for your question and sorry to hear of your condition. Basically it appears that intracranial hypertension can be caused and affected by vitamin A in high doses found in medications or supplements. Vitamin A from natural foods should be fine, that said, you may want to play it safe and limit vitamin A foods. Beta-carotene, which gets converted into vitamin A, should also be limited. So in other words, it is probably ok to eat a carrot each day, but avoid the carrot juice. Hope those thoughts help, and feel better soon. | |
| Posted on 2013-03-27 13:58:28 |
| Name: | Mike |
| Location: | Azerbaijan |
| Subject: | Beta carotene conversion |
| ...So how much of beta carotene is actually converted into vitamin A? I know absorption and digestion is involved, but is there a latest research that shows approximate numbers of conversion? Carrot is my major source of vitamin A. Thank you! | |
| Posted on 2013-03-30 13:32:52 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Beta carotene conversion |
| Hi Mike, thanks for your question. Since carrots do not naturally contain vitamin A, the vitamin A shown on the nutrition facts, and quoted in this article, takes into account the conversion of beta-carotene and other retinol equivalents. So the amount of vitamin A shown gives you a rough estimate of how much beta-carotene and other retinol equivalents get converted to vitamin A. Roughly speaking, 1 International Unit of vitamin A is equal to 0.6 micrograms (μg) of beta-carotene. Thus if an average carrot has 5053μg of beta-carotene, that would get converted, roughly speaking, to 3032IU of vitamin A, or 61% DV. This is from the beta-carotene only, and not counting other retinol equivalents. The U.S. Agricultural Research Service has a document relating to this, and how other nutrition facts are determined. | |
| Posted on 2013-03-30 23:34:42 |
| Name: | Mew |
| Location: | India |
| Subject: | Eggs |
| Is egg a source of vitamin A? | |
| Posted on 2013-04-30 09:03:07 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Eggs |
| Hi Mew, thanks for your question. Eggs are a good source of vitamin A, and have been added to the extended list of vitamin A rich foods. Almost all of the vitamin A in eggs is found in their yolks. In general, the darker yellow an egg yolk is, the more vitamin A it provides. Chickens which eat grass and vegetables (as opposed to grain), are more likely to produce eggs high in vitamin A. On average, a large egg provides 269IU (5% DV) of vitamin A. One large egg yolk will provide 245IU (5% DV). Here are the complete nutrition facts for eggs. | |
| Posted on 2013-05-01 03:24:06 |
| Name: | Brian |
| Location: | Texas, USA |
| Subject: | Alcohol and vitamin A |
| Hello, I read in a raw food book that limiting alcohol consumption is essential, since alcohol depletes vitamin A? Is this true? I have also been greatly reducing my addition of oils to food(mainly getting fats from plant sources flax meal, avocados, bananas, nuts, etc.), but this is the first I've heard about fats and vitamin A conversion. Are there other nutrients that require certain food combinations to absorb them and is there a list of such; especially if eating solely plant-based food diet? Thank you! | |
| Posted on 2013-05-09 18:25:32 |
| Name: | HealthAliciousNess |
| Subject: | RE: Alcohol and vitamin A |
| Hi Brian, thanks for your question. This study confirms that consuming alcohol, particularly in the long term, will deplete your vitamin A levels. Drinking alcohol while consuming vitamin A foods can also hinder absorption of vitamin A. As for the amount of nutrients which are better absorbed in combination, it is difficult to tell. Beyond absorption, many nutrients work together metabolically. To make a list of all these interactions would be a daunting task, but an article on the topic will be started here eventually. Till then, a general rule of thumb is to eat a diverse array of foods (fats, protein, carbs) together. This can still work for a raw plant-based diet, with the exception of vitamin B12 which can only be found naturally in animal products. | |
| Posted on 2013-05-10 04:06:12 |
| Name: | Intracranial Hypertension |
| Location: | United States of America |
| Subject: | Vitamin A Restricted Diet for Intracranial Hypertension and Headaches |
| I was researching foods high in vitamin A so that I may avoid them with my specific diet for Pseudotumor Cerebri or Intracranial Hypertension. My neurologist, neuro-opthamologist and neuro-surgeon are all in agreement that vitamin A in excess of 100% USDA would actually cause more cerebral spinal fluid to be made by the system which would defeat the whole purpose of treatment. I say this only for people who mentioned "headaches" as this was my first symptom. | |
| Posted on 2013-06-04 12:20:38 |
Related Aritcles
References
- USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 20.
- Office Of Dietary Supplements Fact Sheet: Vitamin A
- Semba RD. The role of vitamin A and related retinoids in immune function. Nutr Rev 1998;56:S38-48.
- Ross DA. Vitamin A and public health: Challenges for the next decade. Proc Nutr Soc 1998;57:159-65.
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