How much vitamin A should I take? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

How much vitamin A should I take?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

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  • You should be ingesting around 600 to 900 micrograms of vitamin A daily.
  • Having an adequate amount of vitamin A in your diet helps to promote bone health as well as healthy skin and nails.
  • You can safely take a synthetic vitamin A, a naturally occurring vitamin A, or a combination of the two.

Vitamin A comes in many different forms.

The cheapest and most popular form of vitamin A comes from animal-based sources, while beta carotene comes from plants. In total, you should be ingesting around 600 to 900 micrograms of vitamin A daily.

Trying to buy vitamin A supplements can be confusing because it comes in so many different varieties. Natural vitamin A or beta carotene supplements are a little more expensive than traditional vitamin A tablets.

Having an adequate amount of vitamin A in your diet helps to promote bone health as well as healthy skin and nails.

You can safely take a synthetic vitamin A, a naturally occurring vitamin A, or a combination of the two.

Pair your supplement routine with a regular exercise routine. Go PRO today to get started.

Are There Different Types of Vitamin A?

Beta carotene, the type of vitamin A that comes from plants, is preferred by most doctors. Vitamin A that comes from animals is referred to as retinoids. Most of the information that you will find on vitamin A dosages will reference retinoids because they are more widely available.

If you take a vitamin A supplement that is made with beta carotene you will probably experience fewer side effects. Generally, beta carotene is thought to be more easily digested as well as provide more health benefits. If you choose to take retinoid-based vitamin A supplements, make sure that you do not exceed the daily dosage.

Why Is Vitamin A Important?

Recent research has shown that vitamin A is just as important as calcium when it comes to bone density and bone health. Many of the prescription drugs prescribed to osteoporosis patients contain a large amount of vitamin A.

Pregnant women that experience hair loss are often vitamin A deficient. If you eat lots of green leafy vegetables you probably get a good amount of vitamin A. However, taking a vitamin A supplement can help you to improve your health profile.

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Do You Need to Take Vitamin A Supplements?

Unless you are allergic to virtually all of the foods that are rich in vitamin A, you probably don’t need to take a supplement. By and large, health supplements are optional. Unless you have received blood test results that show that you are extremely deficient in vitamin A, you don’t need to take a supplement.

Before you decide whether or not to start taking vitamin A supplements, make sure that you do an ample amount of research on retinoid and beta carotene. Vegans and vegetarians may not want to take retinoids because of their dietary restrictions.

Are Vitamin A Supplements Dangerous?

Although you need a certain amount of vitamin A to keep your body healthy, taking too much of this nutrient can yield negative results. Overdose of vitamin A supplements is more dangerous if you are taking retinoids than if you are taking beta carotene.

Your doctor should be able to tell you if you are taking too much vitamin A simply by examining your diet. If you are getting a very small amount of vitamin A from your diet, supplements might be necessary.

Vitamin A is just one of the dozens of vitamins and minerals that you need to consume every day. It will be difficult for you to take too much vitamin A if you follow the instructions written on your supplement bottles.

Vitamin A has also been shown to produce symptoms that are similar to multiple sclerosis patients. Usually, this can be remedied by discontinuing the usage of vitamin A supplements.

Who Should Not Take Vitamin A Supplements?

While children often need different vitamins in high amounts, they should never be given a supplement unless it is prescribed. Vitamin A supplements are divided into dosages that are appropriate for adults.

If you have accidentally overdosed on vitamin A supplements in the past, you might not be able to take these supplements. If you have been prescribed any kind of vitamin A supplements, you should continue to take it unless otherwise instructed.

Anyone with an underlying medical condition should ask his or her doctor before taking vitamin A supplements. If you have a health condition, you might be able to take vitamin A supplements in a lower dosage. Although vitamin A is also listed on most multivitamins as an ingredient, it is usually in a lower dose.

Of course, no supplement routine is complete without being paired with a solid exercise routine. Go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, and more.

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