Who should be particularly careful when taking vitamin A?

Unlike water-soluble vitamins, vitamin A accumulates in the body, so an excess of it may be undesirable. This is especially important to consider if you are already taking other supplements or medicines containing retinol or retinyl palmitate: the total dose from several sources may turn out to be higher than necessary.

During pregnancy and when planning a pregnancy, vitamin A requires particular attention: high doses of retinol are associated with a risk to foetal development. This product is not taken during pregnancy, and when planning a pregnancy it is sensible to discuss taking any supplements containing vitamin A with a doctor or obstetrician-gynaecologist.

During breastfeeding the product is not used either, as vitamin A passes into breast milk.

People with chronic liver disease should be careful: vitamin A is metabolised in the liver, and if liver function is impaired, the risk of accumulation increases.

If you take any medicines on a regular basis, it is advisable to consult your doctor before adding any new food supplement to your diet. This is a general rule not limited to vitamin A, but it is especially relevant for fat-soluble vitamins.