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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Vitamin A toxicity
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Vitamin A toxicity
by ChrisBry, Feb 25, 2007 12:00AM
I have hemachromatosis that was diangnosed in 1997 & did well up untill last year & know one has been able to determine why, they just say its not from hemachromatosis.My doctor sent me to Mayo Clinic.
I think I may have vitamin a toxicity.I Drank 4 glasses of carrot juice a day for 4 years up untill I started feeling bad last April .I thought it was okay to do this because a few years ago I read that the body only turns as much carotene as it needs into vitamin a but lately i have read that you can get vitamin a toxicity from large volumes of carrot juice.I have not really pushed this with my doctors but after I have recently read the symptoms of this they seem to really fit.Last May my skin turned yellow for a while but they said it wasnt my liver. My eyes stayed red all year my skin was itchy & my hair fell out covered my sheets .I also feel like theres pressure in my head, it has improved some. I still hurt in my liver & spleen & am fatigued.Now my hairloss has stopped .
Last year I started with these symptoms & losing weight in about april so I discontinued the Carrot juice .In August,I noticed they checked my Retinol it was normal, I have read that this is a poor indicator of vitamin a toxicity & it was also few months after I stopped the carrot juice.
What can be done to diagnose this?
What can be done to offload the Vitamin A?
What can i do myself to improve this?
Will I get better from this?
I think I may have vitamin a toxicity.I Drank 4 glasses of carrot juice a day for 4 years up untill I started feeling bad last April .I thought it was okay to do this because a few years ago I read that the body only turns as much carotene as it needs into vitamin a but lately i have read that you can get vitamin a toxicity from large volumes of carrot juice.I have not really pushed this with my doctors but after I have recently read the symptoms of this they seem to really fit.Last May my skin turned yellow for a while but they said it wasnt my liver. My eyes stayed red all year my skin was itchy & my hair fell out covered my sheets .I also feel like theres pressure in my head, it has improved some. I still hurt in my liver & spleen & am fatigued.Now my hairloss has stopped .
Last year I started with these symptoms & losing weight in about april so I discontinued the Carrot juice .In August,I noticed they checked my Retinol it was normal, I have read that this is a poor indicator of vitamin a toxicity & it was also few months after I stopped the carrot juice.
What can be done to diagnose this?
What can be done to offload the Vitamin A?
What can i do myself to improve this?
Will I get better from this?
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Feb 26, 2007 12:00AM
, Feb 26, 2007 12:00AM
The presence of liver and kidney disease, alcoholism, and the use of some drugs, such as tetracyclines, can increase the vitamin A level. Retinol can be used as a marker for vitamin A - if normal, then it is more likely that you are not toxic.
There is no specific treatment for chronic vitamin A toxicity. Conservative measures, and periodic measurements of the retinol level is recommended. The symptoms from the toxicity may resolve over time.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
There is no specific treatment for chronic vitamin A toxicity. Conservative measures, and periodic measurements of the retinol level is recommended. The symptoms from the toxicity may resolve over time.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
