Aquasol A Parenteral and Nicotine

• Generic Name: vitamin a
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Aquasol A, A-25, A/Fish Oil, Vitamin A Fish

Used to treat and prevent symptoms of vitamin A deficiency such as xerophthalmia and night blindness.

Used as a dietary supplement to prevent vitamin A deficiency in patients with GI diseases (e.g., malabsorption syndromes) and those with abnormal storage and transport of vitamin A (e.g., abetalipoproteinemia, protein deficiency, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, fever, liver disease, cystic fibrosis with hepatic involvement).

Guidelines from WHO, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the International Vitamin A Consultative Group (IVACG, now the Micronutrient Forum) recommend high-dose vitamin A supplements in the prevention and treatment of severe vitamin A deficiency in certain populations. In developing countries where vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem, periodic supplementation with high-dose vitamin A (50,000–200,000 units, depending on age) has been recommended in certain high-risk populations (i.e., postpartum women, children), with reduced doses recommended for pregnant women. Such high doses of vitamin A generally are not used in the US except in individuals with vitamin A deficiency.

WHO and IVACG consider patients with active xerophthalmia (e.g., night blindness, conjunctival xerosis with Bitot's spots, corneal xerosis, corneal ulceration, keratomalacia) to be in imminent danger of corneal destruction and recommend immediate treatment with high dosages of vitamin A. (See Xerophthalmia under Dosage and Administration.)

Children with severe measles have been found to have low serum concentrations of vitamin A; WHO and AAP recommend that vitamin A supplements be given to all children with acute measles, regardless of their country of residence.

Adequate intake needed to prevent vitamin A deficiency and ocular complications (e.g., xerophthalmia) associated with vitamin A deficiency.

Adequate intake of vitamin A usually can be accomplished through consumption of foodstuffs that contain preformed vitamin A (e.g., liver, dairy products, fish) and provitamin A carotenoids (e.g., darkly colored fruits and vegetables).

Adequate intake (AI) established for infants ≤6 months of age based on observed mean vitamin A intake of infants fed principally human milk; AI for infants 7–12 months of age based on the AI for younger infants and the observed mean vitamin A intake from human milk and from solid food.

The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for children 1–18 years of age based on data in adults.

Because of the risk of hypervitaminosis A, some clinicians recommend against the use of vitamin A preparations except in vitamin A deficiency and in appropriate preventive situations.