| Used for
| Amount | Why |
|---|
Anemia | 10,000 to 25,000 IU daily |  [3 stars] Vitamin A deficiency can contribute to anemia, supplementing with this vitamin may restore levels and improve symptoms. |
|
Childhood Diseases | High doses of vitamin A may be used to treat measles or chicken pox, but only under a doctor's supervision
| [3 stars] Vitamin A plays a critical role in proper immune function, it has been used successfully to prevent and treat measles and to treat chicken pox. |
|
Cystic Fibrosis | 5,000 to 10,000 IU daily | [3 stars] The fat malabsorption associated with cystic fibrosis often leads to a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A. Supplementing with this vitamin can help counteract the deficiency. |
|
Infection | See a doctor for evaluation of possible deficiency | [3 stars] Vitamin A plays an important role in immune system function and helps mucous membranes, including those in the lungs, resist invasion by microorganisms. |
|
Leukoplakia | 28,500 IU daily under medical supervision | [3 stars] Vitamin A has been shown to be effective against leukoplakia. |
|
Measles | 200,000 IU daily for two days under medical supervision | [3 stars] In developing countries where vitamin A deficiency is common, preventive supplementation with vitamin A reduced the risk of death in children with measles. |
|
Night Blindness | If deficient: 10,000 to 25,000 IU daily | [3 stars] Night blindness may be an early sign of vitamin A deficiency. Doctors often recommend supplementing with vitamin A per day to correct a deficiency. |
|
Celiac Disease | Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner |  [2 stars] Vitamin A deficiency may occur as a result of celiac disease, in which case vitamin A supplements or injections can be beneficial. |
|
Immune Function | Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner | [2 stars] Vitamin A plays an important role in immune system function and helps mucous membranes, including those in the lungs, resist invasion by microorganisms. |
|
Iron-Deficiency Anemia
(Iron) | Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner | [2 stars] Taking vitamin A and iron together has been reported to help overcome iron deficiency more effectively than iron supplements alone. |
|
Menorrhagia | 50,000 IU of vitamin A each day taken under the supervision of a doctor | [2 stars] In one study, women with menorrhagia who took vitamin A showed significant improvement or complete normalization of menstrual blood loss. |
|
Peptic Ulcer | Take under medical supervision: 150,000 IU per day | [2 stars] Vitamin A is needed to heal the linings of the stomach and intestines. In one trial, supplementing with vitamin A improved healing in a small group of people with stomach ulcer. |
|
Severe Measles | Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner | [2 stars] Two studies of children with severe measles showed that supplementing with high doses vitamin A speeded recovery and reduced complications and pneumonia-related deaths. |
|
Wound Healing | Take under medical supervision: 25,000 IU daily | [2 stars] Vitamin A plays a central role in wound healing and may be useful as a supplement or in a topical ointment. |
|
Abnormal Pap Smear | Refer to label instructions
|  [1 star] Women who don’t get enough vitamin A have an increased risk of cervical dysplasia, though there is little research on using vitamin A as a treatment. |
|
Acne Vulgaris | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Under medical supervision, large quantities of vitamin A have been used successfully to treat severe acne. However, the acne typically returns after treatment is discontinued. |
|
Alcohol Withdrawal | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Because of potential liver damage, correcting the vitamin A deficiency common to alcoholics requires a doctor’s supervision to monitor liver function. |
|
Conjunctivitis and Blepharitis | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Vitamin A deficiency has been reported in people with chronic conjunctivitis, but it is unknown whether vitamin A supplementation can help the condition. |
|
Crohn’s Disease | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Vitamin A is needed for the growth and repair of cells that line both the small and large intestine and can improve symptoms in people with Crohn’s disease. |
|
Diarrhea | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Only in cases of malabsorption should vitamin A be used to treat diarrhea, as it has been shown to have no effect or to increase risk of diarrhea in well-nourished children. |
|
Gastritis | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Vitamin A appears to reduce ulcer size and pain in people with ulcers and may help treat gastritis. |
|
Goiter | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Vitamin A levels are lower in people with goiter than in those without. A combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene prevented goiter formation in iodine-deficient conditions in some research. |
|
HIV and AIDS Support | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Vitamin A deficiency is common in people with HIV infection, and low levels of the vitamin are associated with greater disease severity. Ask your doctor if vitamin A is right for you. |
|
Hypothyroidism | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] People with hypothyroidism may have an impaired ability to convert beta-carotene to vitamin A. For this reason, some doctors suggest supplementing with vitamin A. |
|
Pre- and Post-Surgery Health | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Topical vitamin A may help speed wound healing and reduce scarring in patients taking corticosteroids, which typically slow wound healing. |
|
Premenstrual Syndrome | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Very high amounts of vitamin A have reduced PMS symptoms in some studies. |
|
Sickle Cell Anemia | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Sickle cell anemia patients tend to have low levels of antioxidants, which protect cells from oxygen-related damage. Supplementing with vitamin A may help correct a deficiency. |
|
Type 1 Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy
(Selenium, Vitamin C, Vitamin E) | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Antioxidant nutrients including selenium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E may combat free radicals associated with diabetic retinopathy. |
|
Urinary Tract Infection | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Vitamin A deficiency increases the risk of many infection, supplementing with it may restore levels and help support the immune system. |
|
Vaginitis | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Some doctors recommend vaginal administration of vitamin A to improve the integrity of the vaginal tissue and to enhance the function of local immune cells. |
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