vitamin A & liver damage

by Diane Lofshult

Food for Thought:

Nutrition scientists worry about the growing popularity, availability and misuse of vitamins and over-the-counter (OTC) dietary supplements. It may be hard to imagine, but when it comes to even the most benign of vitamins, too much of a good thing can actually be bad for your health.

One group of researchers, who reported in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, focused on the overuse of vitamin A. They cited a recent case of cirrhosis, or liver damage, in a patient who habitually ingested high amounts of vitamin A; the patient was “cured” of the disease once the supplement was discontinued.

While this may have been an isolated case, the researchers warned against overuse of any vitamin or other dietary supplement. “This case highlights the potential for liver damage that may be associated with long-term intake of OTC vitamin supplements, and indicates the need for medical supervision of such products,” the researchers wrote.