Vitamin A supplementation may cause the immune system to 'forget' past infections

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-06/foas-vas063015.php

Public Release: 30-Jun-2015
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

Although vitamin A supplementation can have profound health benefits when someone is deficient, new evidence is emerging to show that vitamin A supplementation above and beyond normal levels may have negative health consequences. A new research report published in the July 2015 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology may help to explain why too much vitamin A can be harmful. Too much vitamin A shuts down the body's trained immunity, opening the door to infections to which we would otherwise be immune. This study adds to the arguments that vitamin A supplementation should only be done with clear biological and clinical arguments. Furthermore, it also suggests that low vitamin A concentrations in certain situations may even be "normal."

"This study helps to explain the mechanisms of anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin A
[Inflammation is part of the body's immune response.]

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