Vitamin A

About vitamin A

Vitamin A is a vitamin which is important for healthy eyes, good eyesight and a healthy skin. It also helps you to fight infections.

Your doctor may recommend that you (or your child) take a supplement of vitamin A if you cannot get sufficient from your normal diet, or if you are at risk of vitamin A deficiency for some other reason. Vitamin A supplements usually contain other vitamins also, such as vitamin D and vitamin C. They are available to buy without a prescription.

To make sure that this is the right treatment for you, before you start taking vitamin A it is important that you speak with your doctor or pharmacist:

• If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breastfeeding. This is because you are advised inte to take vitamin A supplements during pregnancy or if you are breastfeeding, unless prescribed by a doctor.

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• If you are taking other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines. It is particularly important that you say if you are taking a retinoid preparation (such as isotretinoin) for a skin condition.

• Before you start taking a vitamin A supplement, please read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack.

• Vitamin supplements are usually taken once a day. Your doctor, pharmacist or health visitor will tell you how much you (or your child) should take. The dose will also be on the label of the pack. You can take vitamin supplements at whatever time of day you find easiest to remember. They can be taken either before or after meals.

• Do not take more than the dose which has been recommended or prescribed.

• Foods that contain vitamin A are eggs, milk, liver and fish-liver oils. Another substance called beta-carotene (which is found in green leafy and orange/yellow vegetables and fruits) can be converted by your body into vitamin A and so is also a good source. Try to regularly include some of these foods in your meals.

• Just a reminder that you should not take vitamin A supplements if you are (or think you may be) pregnant. This includes taking fish-liver oil preparations. This is because there is evidence to suggest that high levels of vitamin A can cause problems in babies. Also, you should not eat liver or liver-containing foods such as liver pâté or liver sausage because they too contain a lot of vitamin A.

• Before buying or taking any 'over-the-counter' medicines, please check with a pharmacist which medicines are safe for you to take alongside vitamin A.
  

Although vitamin A is unlikely to cause any side-effects at the recommended doses, large overdoses can be associated with unwanted effects. If you experience any symptoms which you think may be due to the medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

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