【Medical Q&A】How to supplement vitamin A?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Shang Xuejun, Chief Physician, General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command of PLA

Vitamin A can be supplemented through daily diet. Vitamin A only exists in animal foods. The liver of various animals, cod liver oil, fish roe, whole milk, cream, eggs, etc. are the best sources of vitamin A. After being absorbed by the human body, carotene in plants can be converted into physiologically active vitamin A in the body. Carotene comes from colored vegetables, such as spinach, alfalfa, pea sprouts, red sweet potatoes, carrots, peppers, winter amaranth and other vegetables, and fruits such as apricots and persimmons.

Since vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, excessive intake cannot be excreted from the body with urine and tends to accumulate in the body. Animal experiment results show that when experimental animals use large doses of vitamin A during pregnancy, the fetus may suffer from various malformations. Therefore, if vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy requires large doses of supplementation, it should be done under the guidance of a physician.