Hypercalcemia and vitamin A: A vitamin to keep in mind

Article Figures & Data

TABLE 1

Results of initial laboratory tests

Comprehensive metabolic panel	Value^a	Reference range
Protein	7.2 g/dL	6.3–8.0
Albumin	4.6 g/dL	3.9–4.9
Calcium	10.6 mg/dL	8.5–10.2
Bilirubin	0.7 mg/dL	0.2–1.3
Alkaline phosphatase	77 U/L	34–123
Aspartate aminotransferase	26 U/L	13–35
Alanine aminotransferase	24 U/L	7–38
Glucose	155 mg/dL	74–99
Blood urea nitrogen	23 mg/dL	7–21
Creatinine	1.08 mg/dL	0.58–0.96
Sodium	138 mmol/L	136–144
Potassium	4.0 mmol/L	3.7–5.1
Chloride	104 mmol/L	97–105
Bicarbonate	21 mmol/L	22–30
Parathyroid hormone (PTH), intact	14 pg/mL	15–65
Calcium, ionized	1.42 mmol/L	1.08–1.30
Vitamin D (25 hydroxy)	38.2 ng/mL	31–80
Vitamin D (1,25 dihydroxy)	29.7 pg/mL	15–60
PTH-related peptide	< 2.0 pmol/L	0.0–3.4
Thyroid stimulating hormone	1.1 μU/mL	0.27–4.2
Vitamin A/retinol	1.99 mg/L	0.3–1.2
Protein electrophoresis urine	No definitive M protein identified
Protein electrophoresis serum	No definitive M protein identified

TABLE 2

Vitamin A in various food products and over-the-counter supplements, ranked by % RDI

Food product or supplement	Form of vitamin A	Vitamin A content (μg RAE)	Percentage of RDI for adult men
Beef liver, 3 ounces	Activated (preformed)	6,582	731
Cod-liver oil, 1 tablespoon	Activated	4,080	453
Sunmark One Daily Women’s Multivitamin, 1 tablet^a	Mixed (80% activated, 20% provitamin A)	2,500	277
Sweet potato, 1 whole	Provitamin A	1,403	156
Centrum Silver Adults, 1 tablet	Mixed (60% activated, 40% provitamin A)	750	83
One A Day, Women’s Complete Multivitamin^a	Mixed (90% activated, 10% provitamin A)	700	78
Spinach, ½ cup	Provitamin A	573	64
Ricotta cheese, part skim, 1 cup	Activated	263	31
Egg, boiled, 1 large	Activated	75	8
Broccoli, ½ cup	Provitamin A	60	7
Yogurt, 1 cup	Activated	32	4
Chicken meat, ½ breast piece	Activated	5	1

TABLE 3

Recommended daily intake of vitamin A

Age	Sex, subpopulations	Recommended daily intake of vitamin A (μg RAE)
0–6 months	Male and female	400^a
7–12 months	Male and female	500^a
1–3 years	Male and female	300
4–8 years	Male and female	400
9–13 years	Male and female	600
14 years or older	Male	900
14 years or older	Female	700
14–18 years	Female – pregnant	750
14–18 years	Female – lactating	1,200
19–50 years	Male	900
19–50 years	Female	700
19–50 years	Female – pregnant	770
19–50 years	Female – lactating	1,300

↵a Value extrapolated from vitamin A content of consumed breast milk by healthy infants.
RAE = retinol activity equivalents
Based on information in references 4 and 5.