Can Daily Vitamin A Intake Help In Improving GERD Symptoms?

Posted on Sat, 25 Jan 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 25 Jan 2014 Answered on

Mon, 10 Feb 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : In 2011, I became very very sick with all kinds of abdominal pain which eventually spread into my shoulder blade and I always had pain in my tummy. My pain threshold is high but this brought me too my knees. I was eventually diagnosed with Barretts. I was told it was unusual for females to get this (if true, lucky me). So every year since, I go in for that procedure, I get pills because I always have a bacterial infection in the stomach and this year the biops showed gastritis. More pills because now I have a resistant bacteria. I think I need a 2nd opinion here. I read an article in Women's World magazine that taking 5000 IU of vitamin A daily can help heal burned mucus membranes of the esophagus. I would like to have another's opinion of this.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (3 hours later)

Brief Answer: High doses of vit.A might damage liver... Detailed Answer: Hi my dear, It is true that there exists a study confirming the role of taking vitamin A, C and E in improving GERD symptoms as in your case. However, taking vitamin A in such high dose and long period of time would cause other damages to the liver. The risks of liver damage far outweighs the benefit on healing traumatized esophageal mucosa. Hence I do not not support the idea of using high dose vitamin A supplement without monitoring. The very best thing is to take such supplements based on daily nutritional needs our body have. Measuring the levels of such vitamins in the blood will help understand and determine whether you might need extra dose and for how long to prevent other side effects (especially of liver damages). Hope it was of help! Dr.Klerida

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad