Vitamin A concern

cparter

How much vitamin A is too much??? I am a vegatarian and I usually average around 300 to 400% of my dail DV% for vitamin A intake. My concerns are in regards of Vitamin A poisoning. I eat a well balanced diet of fruits, carbs, nuts, and vegatables. My other counts are ok if not slight below or over but vitamin A seems to be off the charts. Any thoughts? :ohwell:

lilmissy2

The upper limit for Vitamin A (where toxicity becomes a risk) is 10000 IU (international units). Not sure what you measure in there or what your RDI or RDAs are so it's difficult to judge beyond that.

Generally, I think people are only at particular risk of toxicity if they take a supplement or have an underlying medical problem e.g. renal failure that inhibits the body's filtering processes.

cparter

Without supplements I am averaging over 16,000 IU according to mapmyfitness calculations. That is just from eating a heathy diet of vegetables.

david1956

Funny I was discussing this at the gym today, relating to liver as a food.

Years ago, before supplements, every body builder knew.. eat liver! It is a fantastic source of protein but has high Vitamin A. Apparently no one should eat it too often, and definitely not pregnant women.

Doesn't answer your question "how much", but funny coincidence to me that you asked it.

lilmissy2

Without supplements I am averaging over 16,000 IU according to mapmyfitness calculations. That is just from eating a heathy diet of vegetables.

MFP isn't perhaps the most clever counting device. If you are getting your 'vitamin A' from vegetables it will mostly be from beta-carotene which is converted into vitamin A in the body. Fortunately, it is controlled by feedback mechanisms ie your body will only convert it to vitamin A if you need vitamin A, so there is not the same risk of toxicity as there would be if you were having actual vitamin A (ie the type in liver for example). You can become beta-carotene overloaded but it is generally easy to spot because your skin will be rather yellow!

cparter

Thanks! That is what I needed to know. You have been a great help.

questionablemethods

You can become beta-carotene overloaded but it is generally easy to spot because your skin will be rather yellow!

A nutrition professor once told me "You will turn orange before you reach a dangerous level of vitamin A."

(I think this was also assuming it was from food sources.)