Can you get vitamin A naturally from foods?
Half to 65% of the adult RDA for vitamin A is easily obtained simply by eating the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
Good food sources of retinoid vitamin A include:
- Eggs
- Whole milk
- Liver
- Fortified skim milk and cereals
Plant sources of vitamin A (from beta-carotene) include carrots, spinach, and apricots.
What are the risks of taking vitamin A?
- Side effects. Symptoms of vitamin A toxicity include dry skin, joint pain, vomiting, headaches, confusion.
- Interactions. If you take any medicines, ask your doctor if vitamin A supplements are safe. Vitamin A supplements may interact with some birth control pills, blood thinners (Coumadin), acne medicines (Accutane), cancer treatments, and many other drugs.
- Risks. Don’t take more than the RDA of vitamin A unless your doctor recommends it. High doses of vitamin A have been associated with birth defects, lower bone density, and liver problems. People who drink heavily or have kidney or liver disease shouldn’t take vitamin A supplements without talking to a doctor.
