However, taking too much vitamin A can be harmful, so it’s best to talk with a healthcare professional and use vitamin A supplements only as directed. Who should not take vitamin A? It’s important not to consume more than 3,000 mcg per day from foods and supplements — this amount is the daily upper limit for vitamin A ( 1). What are good food sources of vitamin A? Infectious diseases. Vitamin A can be used in the treatment of several infectious diseases. It has anti-inflammatory properties and can boost your immune system. ‌

Vitamin A is found in a variety of foods, including animal products like liver, fish oils, milk, cheese, and eggs ( 1). Babies who are having more than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day should not be given vitamin supplements. This is because formula is fortified with vitamins A, C and D and other nutrients.

People who regularly consume liver, smoke, or take other supplements that contain vitamin A should also avoid using supplements unless advised by a healthcare professional ( 1, 16). The main source of vitamin D is summer sunlight on our skin. But it's important to keep your child's skin safe in the sun. Wu, J., et al. (2015). Intakes of lutein, zeaxanthin, and other carotenoids and age-related macular degeneration during 2 decades of prospective follow-up. not eating liver or liver products, such as pâté, more than once a week, or having smaller portions of these

Age-related macular degeneration. A large clinical trial showed that people at high risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration reduced their risk of developing the condition by 25 percent by taking a specific combination of vitamins that included beta-carotene. It's not entirely clear what role beta-carotene played. For example, do not give them cod liver oil and vitamin drops because cod liver oil also contains vitamins A and D. One supplement on its own is enough, as long as it contains the recommended dose of vitamin D. Vitamin D Hypervitaminosis A. Hypervitaminosis A — or vitamin A toxicity — can happen after taking a single large dose of vitamin A or taking smaller doses over a longer period of time. Symptoms include:

Vitamin C

Babies who are being breastfed should be given a daily vitamin D supplement from birth, whether or not you're taking a supplement containing vitamin D yourself. Where you can get baby vitamin drops

Women who have been through the menopause and older men, who are more at risk of osteoporosis, should avoid having more than 1.5mg of vitamin A a day from food and supplements. Children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D. However, cod liver oil tends to be lower in vitamin A than other forms, which may not be suitable for those with a deficiency. Is it okay to take vitamin A every day? The Department of Health and Social Care only recommends vitamin supplements containing vitamins A, C and D.

helping your body's natural defence against illness and infection (the immune system) work properly

Carotenemia. If you take in too much carotene, you can develop carotenemia. Carotenemia can cause your skin to turn yellow, but it doesn't usually cause other symptoms. Even though carotene is converted to vitamin A in your body, excess carotene doesn't cause vitamin A toxicity. ‌ Cystic fibrosis. Problems with the pancreas that occur with cystic fibrosis increase the risk of vitamin A deficiency.‌ ‌Vitamin A. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/. Accessed Aug. 8, 2017. But some supplements you can buy contain other vitamins or ingredients. Talk to a pharmacist about which supplement would be most suitable for your child. Osteoporosis. Retinol intake of 1,500 micrograms of RAE or more every day might be related to osteoporosis. ‌ Knowing how much preformed vitamin A you're taking is especially important to avoid toxicity. Taking synthetic vitamin A can lead to dangerous levels of vitamin A in your body. Benefits of Vitamin A