Case Report: Vitamin A Toxicity and Hypercalcemia

May 1982 in “ The American journal of the medical sciences ”

Vanaja V. Ragavan, John E. Smith, John P. Bilezikian

vitamin A toxicity hypercalcemia total body alopecia erosive dermatitis retinyl esters vitamin A hair loss skin erosion

TLDR Vitamin A toxicity likely caused the patient's high calcium levels.

A case report from 1982 described a patient with hypercalcemia linked to chronic vitamin A ingestion, presenting with symptoms such as weight loss, psychiatric disturbances, total body alopecia, erosive dermatitis, and liver disease. Elevated total vitamin A levels, particularly retinyl esters, confirmed vitamin A toxicity. Other causes of hypercalcemia were ruled out, leading to the conclusion that the hypercalcemia was most likely due to vitamin A toxicity, highlighting the impact of vitamin A on bone metabolism.

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