What is the recommended dose of Vitamin A?

- **RDA:** 700-900mcg RAE/day (2,333-3,000 IU) - **Upper limit:** 3,000mcg RAE/day (10,000 IU) preformed vitamin A - **Beta-carotene:** 6-15mg/day (converts to vitamin A as needed, body self-regula...

Is Vitamin A safe to take daily?

Vitamin A is rated "Prescription Interactions" based on clinical evidence. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement.

Does Vitamin A interact with any medications?

Vitamin A has 6 known drug interactions, including interactions with Retinoids (isotretinoin/Accutane), Warfarin, Tetracyclines. Check with your doctor before combining with prescription medications.

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Ingredient Research

Graded against 173,636 supplements + 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, NIH DSLD

Vitamin A

STRONG EVIDENCEVitaminLast updated April 2026

AVELOR SUMMARY

Vitamin A is essential for vision, immune function, reproduction, and cellular communication. Our research distinguishes between preformed vitamin A (retinol, from animal sources) and provitamin A (beta-carotene, from plants). The critical safety concern: preformed vitamin A is teratogenic at doses >10,000 IU/day during pregnancy and hepatotoxic with chronic high-dose supplementation. Beta-carotene INCREASES lung cancer risk in smokers. This is one supplement where excess is genuinely dangerous.

EVIDENCE GRADES

Deficiency correction (night blindness, xerophthalmia)Definitive, established medicine

Immune function (deficient populations)Strong, WHO supplementation programs

Skin health (retinoids, prescription)Strong, acne, photoaging (topical/oral Rx)

Lung cancer risk (beta-carotene in smokers)ATBC and CARET trials: 18-28% INCREASED lung cancer (PMID: 8127329)

⚠️ HARM

Prostate cancer risk (high retinol)Observational association with increased risk

⚠️ CONCERN

OPTIMAL DOSAGE

RDA: 700-900mcg RAE/day (2,333-3,000 IU)
Upper limit: 3,000mcg RAE/day (10,000 IU) preformed vitamin A
Beta-carotene: 6-15mg/day (converts to vitamin A as needed, body self-regulates)
Pregnancy: 770mcg RAE/day, do NOT exceed 10,000 IU preformed vitamin A
Most multivitamins provide 100% DV, additional supplementation rarely needed

Scan a supplement containing Vitamin A

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Retinoids (isotretinoin/Accutane)Severe

Additive vitamin A toxicity, hypervitaminosis A risk

WarfarinModerate

High-dose vitamin A may increase bleeding risk

TetracyclinesSevere

Additive intracranial pressure (pseudotumor cerebri)

Hepatotoxic drugsModerate

Chronic vitamin A is hepatotoxic; additive liver stress

OrlistatModerate

Reduces fat-soluble vitamin absorption including vitamin A

CholestyramineModerate

Reduces absorption

SAFETY PROFILE

Drug Interactions

⚠️ Toxicity Warnings

Acute toxicity (>100,000 IU single dose): Nausea, vomiting, vertigo, blurred vision, intracranial pressure
Chronic toxicity (>25,000 IU/day for months): Liver damage, bone loss, headache, skin peeling, hair loss
Teratogenicity: Preformed vitamin A >10,000 IU/day during pregnancy causes birth defects, neural crest malformations (UNCITED: the cited PMID did not support this claim and was removed; this statement is not currently sourced)
Smokers + beta-carotene: 20-30mg/day beta-carotene INCREASED lung cancer by 18-28% in two large trials (ATBC, CARET)

Pregnancy & Lactation

CRITICAL: Do NOT exceed 10,000 IU (3,000mcg) preformed vitamin A during pregnancy
Beta-carotene does NOT carry teratogenic risk (self-regulated conversion)
Prenatal vitamins should use beta-carotene or mixed carotenoids rather than retinol

WADA Status

Not Prohibited

HOW AVELOR SCORES THIS

Products >10,000 IU preformed vitamin A: automatic upper limit warning

Pregnancy screen: products with >3,000mcg retinol trigger teratogenicity alert

Smoker screen: beta-carotene supplementation gets lung cancer risk warning

Isotretinoin/Accutane users: automatic CONTRAINDICATED flag

Beta-carotene from food sources vs supplements: note that supplement beta-carotene in smokers is harmful while dietary beta-carotene is not

Products using mixed carotenoids score better than high-dose retinol for general population

CLINICAL REFERENCES

Reference identifiers on this page are being re-verified against PubMed. Some may not yet link to the paper named beside them.

, Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study Group. The effect of vitamin E and beta carotene on lung cancer (ATBC trial).

PMID: 8127329

, Omenn GS et al. Effects of a combination of beta carotene and vitamin A on lung cancer (CARET trial).

PMID: 8602180

, Penniston KL, Tanumihardjo SA. The acute and chronic toxic effects of vitamin A.

PMID: 16968850

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Independently graded against 173,636 indexed supplements with 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated: April 2026

Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.

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