Vitamin A Brand Names
- A Mulsin
- Aquasol A
- Dofsol-A
What is Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is available from both plant and animal sources. Animal sources of vitamin A are referred to as retinoids, while carotenoids are the term applied to vitamin A precursors, such as beta-carotene, derived from plants.
Retinoids include retinol and other derivatives (e.g., retinal (retinaldehyde), retinoic acid, and retinyl esters) that have the same activities and beta-ionone ring but differ in the terminal C-15 group at the end of the side chain.
Vitamin A is important for normal vision, gene expression, reproduction, embryonic development, growth, and immune function.
Deficiency of vitamin A is well known to cause xerophthalmia. Sources of preformed vitamin A include eggs, dairy products, meat (especially liver), and oily salt-water fish.
In addition to the treatment and prevention of vitamin A deficiency, vitamin A has been used in the management of keratinization disorders such as ichthyosis and keratosis follicularis; however, its potential for toxicity has led to the investigation of vitamin A analogs, such as tretinoin and isotretinoin, as alternative agents.
Beta-carotene has been used to decrease the severity of photosensitivity reactions in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP).
Vitamin A is a potentially toxic compound; it should not be regarded as a simple nutrient.
The role of vitamin A and other vitamins as cancer-preventing compounds is unclear. The injectable form of vitamin A is available as an FDA-approved drug. Oral vitamin A products are available as dietary supplements.
Indications
- chronic lung disease (CLD)
- erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP)
- fat malabsorption diagnosis
- ichthyosis
- measles
- nutritional supplementation
- retinitis pigmentosa
- vitamin A deficiency
- xerophthalmia
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- alopecia
- anaphylactic shock
- anaphylactoid reactions
- anorexia
- ascites
- cholestasis
- decreased HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration
- dysmenorrhea
- exophthalmos
- growth inhibition
- headache
- hepatomegaly
- hepatotoxicity
- hypervitaminosis A
- hypotension
- increased intracranial pressure
- irritability
- jaundice
- lethargy
- leukopenia
- malaise
- metabolic acidosis
- nausea
- papilledema
- pseudotumor cerebri
- skin discoloration
- skin hyperpigmentation
- teratogenesis
- thrombocytopenia
- vomiting
- xerosis
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- acne vulgaris
- breast-feeding
- hepatic disease
- hyperlipidemia
- hypervitaminosis A
- intravenous administration
- malnutrition
- myocardial infarction
- neonates
- polysorbate 80 hypersensitivity
- pregnancy
- premature neonates
- tobacco smoking
Interactions
- Calcium
- Calcium Carbonate; Risedronate
- Castor Oil
- Cholestyramine
- Colesevelam
- Colestipol
- Methoxsalen
- Mineral Oil
- Orlistat
- Porfimer
- Risedronate
- Salicylic Acid
- Sodium Thiosulfate; Salicylic Acid
- St. John’s Wort, Hypericum perforatum
- Verteporfin
