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Q. I found out recently that the hair loss I've been experiencing over the last couple of years was directly attributable to Vitamin A. I was taking 25,000 IU a day of Vitamin A in my daily vitamin pill. Apparently that is toxic and causes hair loss. I just wanted to warn others.
A. Too much vitamin A can cause hair loss, along with loss of appetite, skin problems, headache, fatigue and many other problems. The usual recommended intake is 5,000 IU daily for adults, so you were definitely getting far too much.
The writer doesn't mention if it is natural vitamin A or a chemical version. It is my understanding that it makes a huge difference. The bad reports coming from the artificial A.
When I came back from the far east it was winter. I arrived at Camp Lejune and spent 5 days in the hospital with an acute sinus infection and received shots of penicillin. Got out and worked at a GM plant in Parma. I kept 5 hankies in my pockets at all ties cause nose ran like a sugar tree. Went to a chiropractor for muscle spasms. In his air conditioned office my nose ran like a sugar tree. He said take 2500 iu of vitamin A from a fish liver oil. Stopped on the way home, as I though, what have I got to lose? But I did have something to lose, after taking it for 3 months, my sinus problem left me: it works. Friend of mine had the same success. Have been alternative since, 47 years.
TO:fbl-I researched online about the difference in natural and synthetic vitamin A, there doesn't seem to be a lot of information about the difference in the two. Unlike vitamin E, there is ample information on how to tell the difference in the two, as well as what the different forms do in the body.
This leads me to believe the difference is not as important as the correct dosage. A dosage that is too large can be very dangerous. The person posting the warning, was lucky to have only one problem.
If I find out any information on the natural vs. synthetic I will post it.
The AREDS formula for ARMD contains 28,000 units of Vitamin A daily. How do you justify your limit of 5,000 units daily?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: THE AREDS RESEARCH WAS DONE A DECADE AGO. SINCE THEN, FURTHER RESEARCH HAS SUGGESTED A MORE MODEST AMOUNT OF VITAMIN A IS BETTER.