Medical Health Encyclopedia

Hypervitaminosis A


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Vitamin A source
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Definition

Hypervitaminosis A is having too much vitamin A in the body.


Alternative Names

Vitamin A toxicity


Causes, incidence, and risk factors

There are two types of vitamin A hypervitaminosis:

  • Acute -- caused by taking too much vitamin A over a short period of time
  • Chronic -- occurs when too much of the vitamin is present over a longer period

Chronic vitamin A toxicity develops after taking too much vitamin A for long periods.



Review Date: 05/23/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).




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