Vitamin A

(retinol, retinal)

DRI (RDA or AI for Adults)

Males: 900 mcg RAE (2,997 IU). Females: 700 mcg RAE (2,331 IU).
Pregnancy: 770 mcg RAE (2,564 IU). Lactation: 1,300 mcg RAE (4,329 IU).
RAE = Retinol Activity Equivalents. 1 RAE = 1 mcg retinol. 1 RAE = 3.33 IU.

Adult Maintenance - Therapeutic Range

5,000 - 25,000 IU.

Major Sources (35,000 IU to 1,500 IU per serving)

Beef liver, veal liver, chicken liver, cod liver oil, turkey liver, beef kidney. Beta-Carotene: carrot, pumpkin, sweet potato, butternut squash, mango, spinach, cantaloupe, collard greens, kale, beet greens, Swiss chard.

Non-Therapeutic Importance

Essential for normal growth, development, and maintenance of epithelial tissue; essential to the integrity of night vision; helps provide for normal bone development; influences normal tooth formation; necessary for wound healing; toxic in large quantities.

Deficiency Symptoms

Children: growth failure, poor dark adaptation, xerosis
Adults: night blindness, xeroderma

Increased Risk for Deficiency

Acute protein deficiency
Alcoholism
Chronic nephritis
Fat malabsorption
Gallbladder disease
Immunodepression
Intestinal parasites
Liver disease
Measles
Neomycin sulfate and cortisone
Pancreatic disease
Respiratory disease

Possible Therapeutic Applications

CONSULT WITH A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL FIRST HIGH DOSAGE NOTE: To avoid potential birth defects, pregnant women should not exceed 10,000 IU. Most adults (pregnant women excluded) can tolerate large doses of retinol for short periods of time. However, for prolonged intake, it is best to keep vitamin A intake below 25,000 IU. Supplementation may prevent, correct deficiencies caused by, or be helpful with, the following conditions:

Acne
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS, HIV)
Aging
Asthma
Cancer
Candidiasis (yeast infection)
Cardiac Arrhythmias
Celiac Disease
Cerebrovascular Disease (including stroke)
Crohn's Disease
Diabetes
Eczema
Fibrocystic Breast Disease
Glaucoma
Herpes Simplex (cold sores)
Immunodepression (immune function)
Infection (colds, flu, etc.)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Kidney Stones
Macular Degeneration
Peptic Ulcers
Periodontal Disease
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Psoriasis
Retinopathy
Scleroderma
Sinusitis (sinus infection)
Tinnitus
Ulcerative Colitis
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
Wound Healing