Vitamin A For Kids: Right Dosage, Benefits & Side Effects

Various Sources Of Vitamin A For Children

Image: MomJunction Design Team

It is important to provide a diet rich in Vitamin A for children. Vitamin A is a group of fat-soluble essential vitamins available in the human diet in two forms, preformed vitamin A (retinoids) and provitamin A (carotenoids). Retinoids are found in animal products, while carotenoids are available in plant foods.

Both these forms perform different functions in the body. It is important for you to include a variety of foods in your child’s diet to meet the vitamin A requirement, especially because young children are at risk of vitamin A deficiency.

Read this post to learn about the importance of vitamin A for kids, how much they need, and various food sources of this vitamin.

In This Article

Why Do Children Need Vitamin A?

Vitamin A supports normal growth and development in children

Image: IStock

Vitamin A is one of the essential vitamins that our body cannot manufacture, and thus, it needs to be included in the diet for improving health. This micronutrient has an important role because it (1) (2):

Supports normal growth and development in children.

Helps maintain healthy teeth, bones, and soft tissues.

Is required to maintain the structural integrity of all the surface tissues, such as skin, to combat infections and facilitate wound healing.

Supports vision and eye functions.

Aids in maintaining a healthy immune system due to its antioxidant properties. A healthy immune system is vital for protection against pathogens.

Helps in proper functioning of heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs.

Apart from these, there are several other physiological functions, such as management of oxidative stress.

How Much Vitamin A Do Kids Need?

The following table provides the recommended dietary allowance (daily intake) of vitamin A in micrograms of retinolⁱA fat-soluble form of vitamin A naturally found in plant and animal-based foods, also available as a dietary supplement activity equivalents (mcg/day RAE) for children of various age groups (3).

Age	RDA (boys)	RDA (girls)
4 – 8 years	400mcg RAE	400mcg RAE
9 – 13 years	600mcg RAE	600mcg RAE
14 – 18 years	900mcg RAE	700mcg RAE

Note: Retinol Activity Equivalent (RAE) indicates vitamin A of all types, from all sources, that are eventually converted by the body into retinol. 1mcg RAE = 1mcg retinol / 2mcg supplemental beta-carotene / 12mcg dietary beta-carotene / 24mcg dietary alpha-carotene or beta-cryptoxanthinⁱA carotenoid and precursor of vitamin A found in foods, fruits, and vegetables Source: National Institutes of Health

Your child can meet this nutrient requirement by consuming a well-balanced, healthy diet. A well-balanced diet includes food from various food sources in moderation.

Food Sources of Vitamin A

Image: IStock

Preformed vitamin A, i.e., retinoids, like retinoic acid, are found in dairy products, meat, and fish. It is also available in fortified foods and vitamin supplements. Provitamin A, i.e., carotenoids, include alpha-carotene and beta carotene, are found in fruits and vegetables. The table below shows some of the best vitamin A sources to include in a child’s diet.

List of Vitamin A foods (3)

Food	Micrograms (mcg) RAE per serving	Percent DV*
Beef liver, pan-fried, 3 ounces	6,582	731
Sweet potato, baked in skin, 1 whole	1,403	156
Spinach, frozen, boiled, ½ cup	573	64
Pumpkin pie, commercially prepared, 1 piece	488	54
Carrots, raw, ½ cup	459	51
Cheese, ricotta, part-skim, 1 cup	263	29
Herring, Atlantic, pickled, 3 ounces	219	24
Milk, fat-free or skim, with added vitamin A and vitamin D, 1 cup	149	17
Cantaloupe, raw, ½ cup	135	15
Peppers, sweet, red, raw, ½ cup	117	13
Mangos, raw, 1 whole	112	12
Egg, hard-boiled, 1 large	75	8
Black-eyed peas (cowpeas), boiled, 1 cup	66	7
Apricots, dried, sulfured, 10 halves	63	7
Broccoli, boiled, ½ cup	60	7
Salmon (oily fish), sockeye, cooked, 3 ounces	59	7
Yogurt, plain, low fat, 1 cup	32	4

*Percent DV = Daily value percent is the amount of nutrient available in one serving of food. For example, if the label lists 25% for vitamin A, it means that one serving provides 25% of the vitamin A you need each day. Note: Lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin are some other types of carotenoids found in food that are not converted to vitamin A.

Some fortified foods, like ready-to-eat breakfast cereals and juices, contain added preformed vitamin A, an active form of vitamin A easily absorbed by the body.

Vitamin A overdose can occur due to excess intake of vitamin A supplements and excess consumption of liver. It is best to limit liver intake to once in a week and only serve small portions (4). If your child is on vitamin A supplements or is consuming other animal sources of vitamin A, like fish oil or eggs, then do not feed them liver.

Quick tip

Make vegetables and fruits look beautiful on the platter. Serve variety, slice them up for a twist, or put them on a unique dish. Try a different fruit or vegetable once a week for picky eaters.

Signs And Symptoms Of Vitamin A Deficiency

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) or hypovitaminosis A, can be due to lack of a well-balanced diet, fat malabsorption or liver disorders

. Low vitamin A level in the body leads to deficiency, which can present the following signs (5).

General fatigue
Dry skin, rashes, acne, breakouts, dry hair or hair loss
Recurrent infections marking poor immune response
Increased risk of anemia
Slow growth and development
Throat and chest infections
Poor wound healing
Ocular effectsⁱDiverse symptoms or complications of the eye occurring due to medical conditions or medication side effects

Vitamin A deficiency in children can cause ocular defects

Image: IStock

Severe vitamin A deficiency can further cause the following signs.

Blurry vision or poor eyesight

Sensitivity to bright light

Irregular patches on the white of the eyes

Night blindness (nyctalopia), the earliest manifestation of xerophthalmia, where the night vision is affected

Severe dryness of the eye (xerophthalmia); if untreated can lead to blindness

If you observe any of the above signs of vitamin A deficiency in your child, then consult a pediatrician.

What Is Vitamin A Supplement?

According to the US National Institutes of Health, a dietary supplement is a substance that adds a nutrient to a person’s diet to minimize the risk of health problems due to lack of adequate nutrition. A supplement can be used to fill the nutritional gap in an individual’s diet (6).

Here are some important points about vitamin A supplements you should know before using them for your child (7).

Do not use the supplements without discussing it with your child’s doctor.

Vitamin A is available as part of multivitamin supplements as well as standalone vitamin A dietary supplements. These supplements come in multiple forms, such as tablets, capsules, gummies, powders, drinks, and energy bars.

Vitamin A for children is available as tablets, capsules, gummies, etc.

Image: IStock

Beta-carotene supplementation is more effective than an equal amount of beta-carotene from food.

Read the label or fact sheet to know the form and amount of vitamin A in the supplement.

The nutrition label also tells you about other active ingredients, fillers, binders, and flavorings present in the supplement. It is crucial to note these ingredients as their safety and efficacy in children need to be checked before use.

Oral vitamin A dietary supplements should be taken with a meal to enhance their absorption.

Vitamin A supplementation is a decision that you should take in consultation with a healthcare provider. Never give any supplement to the child without consulting the doctor. Most supplements do not cause any side effects in children when the recommended age-specific dose is administered. However, high doses can lead to vitamin A overdose.

Vitamin A Overdose And Its Side Effects

Being a fat-soluble vitamin, the body stores the extra vitamin A primarily in the liver and releases it when needed. However, in the case of excess storage, vitamin A toxicity (hypervitaminosis A) can occur due to excessive consumption of preformed vitamin A (retinoids) and not provitamin A (carotenoids).

Some of the symptoms of chronic toxicity are (5):

Dry itchy skin or skin irritation/rashes or desquamation (peeling skin)
Nausea
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Abdominal pain
Dizziness

Vitamin A overdose in children can cause dizziness

Image: IStock

Bone abnormalities
Increased probability of bone fractures
Alopecia (hair loss)
Irritability, drowsiness, dizziness, headache

In severe cases, hypervitaminosis A could also lead to liver damage, coma, and death.

Quick fact

High doses of vitamin A in pregnancy may cause congenital disabilities, such as abnormalities in the baby’s lungs, heart, eyes, and skull development (11).

Upper intake limit of vitamin A

The following table shows the upper intake limit of vitamin A for children of different age groups (8).

Age	Upper intake limit
4 – 8 years	600 mcg
9 – 13 years	900 mcg
14 – 18 years	1,700 mcg

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does vitamin A affect children?

Vitamin A supplements reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality in infants and children. It helps to enhance vision and immune functions. There are no side effects if vitamin A supplements are administered as recommended age-specific dose (9).

2. When should vitamin A be given to a child?

The World Health Organization recommends vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6-59 months as a part of public health interventions. Doctors may recommend further doses if required for various reasons (10).

3. How often can a child take vitamin A?

A high-dose vitamin A supplementation is recommended for children aged six to 59 months every four to six months if they live in regions where vitamin A deficiency is observed. 100,000 international units (IU) are recommended for children between six and 11 months, and 200,000 IU for children between 12 and 59 months (10).

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient and must be a part of a child’s diet for proper growth and development. To ensure your child receives adequate vitamin A, ensure to provide a balanced diet. Our list of vitamin A foods can help you choose the ingredient to prepare a vitamin A meal for your child. However, avoid vitamin A supplementations for children without a prescription from a medical professional. You may also teach your children about vitamin A and its uses, as this will help them in their foods choice and choose wisely.

Infographic: Foods Rich In Vitamin A For Children

Vitamin A is a crucial nutrient for children’s healthy growth and development. But make sure not to give your child too little or too much vitamin A, as excess can be harmful. So, scroll through the infographic below for rich sources of vitamin A for children.

dietary sources of vitamin a for your child (infographic)

Key Pointers

Vitamin A is an important micronutrient for kids as it strengthens teeth, bones, and tissues, supports immunity, vision, and multiple organ functions.
Recommended daily intake of vitamin A varies with the age of children.
Overconsumption of vitamin A can cause vitamin A toxicity and other chronic symptoms.
Fruits, vegetables (particularly carrots), dairy, fish, and meat are rich sources of vitamin A. Some fortified foods and juices also contain it.
Very low levels of vitamin A (severe deficiency) can cause blurry vision, light sensitivity, night blindness, and xerophthalmia in children.
Vitamin A supplements are available in many forms and should only be given after consultation with a doctor.

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

1. Micronutrient Facts; CDC
2. Vitamin A; Medline Plus; U.S National Library of Medicine
3. Vitamin A; National Institute of Health
4. Meat in your diet; NHS UK
5. Chapter 7. Vitamin A; FAO
6. Dietary Supplements; National Institute of Aging
7. Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know; National Institute of Health
8. Vitamin A; Oregon State University
9. Vitamin A supplementation: who, when and how; NCBI
10. Children 6-59 months receiving vitamin A supplements; WHO
11. Vitamin A and Carotenoids; National Institute of Health

Was this article helpful?

Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Seeemaa BudhrajaDDHE & DNHE

Seeemaa Budhraja is a Delhi-based dietitian and nutritionist. She specializes in weight and lifestyle management. She is a healthy recipe designer, works as a health motivator and wellness coach as well. She has worked as a slimming head with one of the top organizations in India.

Read full bio of Seeemaa Budhraja

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal

Rohit GarooBSc, MBA

Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.

Read full bio of Rohit Garoo

Shinta Liz SunnyM.Tech

Shinta is a biotechnologist who is highly intrigued by science and technology. She holds a master's degree in Biotechnology from Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences and a PG Diploma in cellular and molecular diagnostics from Manipal University.

Read full bio of Shinta Liz Sunny