Ask the Diva: Am I Getting Too Much Vitamin A?
Can too much Vitamin A make your hair fall out? Nutrition Diva answers a reader question.
Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N, CNS
Q. I’ve read recently that too much Vitamin A can make your hair fall out. I eat lots of foods that are rich in vitamin A, including carrots, greens, bell peppers, and cantaloupe. In addition, I take a multivitamin that provides 2,500 IU of Vitamin A. Could this be causing my hair to thin?
Answer. First of all, three cheers for including all those lovely fruits and vegetables in your diet on a regular basis! For that, you get a gold star from the Nutrition Diva!
And secondly, while it is possible to overdo it with Vitamin A, it doesn’t sound as if you’re in danger of that. Although fruits and vegetables are sometimes said to be high in “vitamin A,” they actually provide beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body. The great thing about getting your vitamin A from fruits and vegetables is that your body will only convert beta-carotene to the active form of vitamin A as needed. There’s no danger of overload. As a bonus, these fruits and vegetables provide all kinds of other antioxidants and nutrients, as well–ones you can’t get from any pill.
Find out which nutrients are dangerously easy to over-consume:
Can You Get Too Many Vitamins?
Now that we’ve set your mind at ease about your vitamin A intake, check out his great column on possible causes (and treatments) for hair loss, from Girlfriend MD.
About the Author
Monica Reinagel is a board-certified licensed nutritionist, author, and the creator of one of iTunes’ most highly ranked health and fitness podcasts. Her advice is regularly featured on the TODAY show, Dr. Oz, NPR, and in the nation’s leading newspapers, magazines, and websites. Do you have a nutrition question? Call the Nutrition Diva listener line at 443-961-6206. Your question could be featured on the show.