Question

A 45 year old patient with normal liver and kidney function has nonhealing wounds and a suspected vitamin A deficiency. Supplementation of vitamin A (25,000 IU/day) should usually be given for a maximum of

1: 3 days.
2: 14 days.
3: 90 days.
4: 180 days.

Answer 1

For a suspected vitamin A deficiency, a 45-year-old patient may be prescribed 25,000 IU/day of vitamin A supplementation, but should not exceed 180 days of treatment to prevent hypervitaminosis. Regular medical supervision is necessary to monitor for toxicity.

Step-by-step explanation:

For a 45-year-old patient with normal liver and kidney function exhibiting nonhealing wounds and a suspected vitamin A deficiency, treatment often includes the supplementation of vitamin A. An adequate dosage for such a supplementation would be 25,000 IU/day. However, it is critical to monitor for signs of hypervitaminosis, which can include nausea as an adverse effect. Understanding that fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin A, D, E, and K, can accumulate in the body, over-supplementation must be cautiously avoided.

Vitamin A supplementation should not exceed 180 days without the guidance of a healthcare professional, ensuring that risks of toxicity are minimized while promoting wound healing and compensating for the deficiency. It is also important that the supplementation be done under medical supervision to avoid potential hypervitaminosis symptoms and to regularly assess the patient's liver function during this period, which could impact vitamin storage and metabolism.