Vitamin A Supplements

Facts About Vitamin A Supplements

Using vitamin A tablets or creams is a very common practice due to the antioxidant activity of vitamin A along with the belief that vitamin A can prevent the symptoms of aging and other skin problems. One of the main proponents of this assertion surrounds beta-carotene with lacking evidence.

Retinol is the active form of vitamin A that your body actually uses. Beta-carotene is converted to retinol before being shipped to the liver for storage or immediate usage (More Info).

But, when putting retinol into vitamin A pills and creams, interactions with other molecules in the immediate environment tend to deem the pure vitamin A less usable and unstable. So, researchers have tried to come to a compromise...

In pills, vitamin A is most often present as "retinyl palmitate" or "retinyl acetate". These forms of vitamin A are less reactive, preventing them from interacting with other ingredients of a supplement pill. These sorts of interactions can destroy the functions of vitamin A.

The problem with these forms of vitamin A is that they're not as easily metabolized and much more must be taken to get the same benefit as pure vitamin A. To avoid any confusion, it's better to take the more pure form of vitamin A in the form of retinol when possible. Or, simply eat a balanced diet. Learn more about the different derivatives of vitamin A.

Enough is Enough!

Many facts about vitamin A circulate throughout the internet and other media outlets. Many of them surround topics including skin treatments, drugs and anti-aging creams...the problem is that people tend to go overboard with the belief that more is better - this is really not the case with vitamin A! Taking too much can have many detrimental effects.

Essential Fatty Acid Pills

Vitamin A overdose symptoms can result from excessive intake of these supplements. For example, weight lifters and some health-conscious individuals take fish oils, cod liver oils and other essential fatty acids because they're rich in "good" fats (mono- and polyunsaturated fats). But, these products also contain large amounts of vitamin A (a fat-soluble vitamin!). So, taking in large amounts of these "essential fatty acid" gelcaps can cause problems if you're not careful. Getting your facts about vitamin A straight is a great way to avoid such problems, such as those outlined on this page!

Do You Need More Vitamin A?

It's probable that you dont, but there are certain cases in which a vitamin A deficiency is diagnosed. It's important to consult a physician before taking vitamin A as it's the most toxic vitamin!

Should Children Take Vitamin A Supplements?

This is important - no child should take any sort of vitamin A supplement unless your doctor advises him or her to do so! Furthermore, no adult should take in more than 1000 RE (see here) of vitamin A, while no pregnant woman should take in more than a total of 800 RE on a daily basis from any source (see RDA table for vitamin A). In fact, vitamin A and its derivatives are generally avoided during pregnancy.

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