Reposting Vit A Info

December 16, 2003

Re the 400,000iu for two days (Mega A Rx for measles):

This is reposting of Vit A Rx for those who missed it. I'm concerned that

someone is giving 500,000iu in the CLO form because of the danger of Vit D

toxicity. Though current fears of that are probably overestimated, I think it

is unwise to give that much until we learn a lot more.

At the DAN!, (in PA) Dr. Sidney Baker spoke of a study showing that 200,000 iu

of Vitamin A was not enough to ameliorate the impact of measles infection - the

children needed 400,000 iu for two days (800,000 iu total). As I have said, if

the rubeola IgA salivary titers are elevated (per our study), IgG levels are

very elevated, the child has a history of strong reaction to MMR and/or followed

by regression soon thereafter, and certainly with brain antibodies indicating

autoimmune reaction, I believe there is indication they may benefit from this

large dose, followed by 10,000 to 25,000 per day per age and size. Some parents

are reporting benefit from even smaller doses, as I was originally suggesting

250,000 iu 1st day, then 200,000, then 150,000 etc. with maintenance at 10,000

to 25,000 (subtracting the up to 5000 in CLO, with the rest in fish oil A or vit

A palmitate.

What kind to use? Fish oil vit. A vs vit. A palmitate? Dr. Pangborn has given me

the following information - " Per the Merck Index, the palmitate form of

all-trans or retinol is the preponderant ester in fish liver oils (cod, shark).

But I do not like synthetic vit A palmitate unless one has to use pharmacologic

doses such as Sid (Baker) is describing. ------ Synthetic palmitate can be a

problem in allergically sensitive individuals. ----- Natural fish oil includes

all-trans-retinol, -ci-retinol, and probably some very similar molecules.

There's no guarantee that a synthetic palmitate will have these. -----I'm wary

of synthetics, but again, for >200,000 iu doses one may have to use what's

practical. (This is item 10150 ( " Vitamin A " ) in the Merck index.

To be practical in solid or powder supplements, one finds vit A acetate. Some

potency is lost in the acetate form, about 15%.

Under 5000 iu, there's no reason to test serum retinol levels. Actually, tests

are not reliable anyway. The most important thing is to watch for symptoms of A

overdose: headache, nausea, dry scaly skin, vertigo, blurred vision and erythema

or rash. Serum calcium will be elevated, as hypervitaminosis A features

hypercalcemia. "

December 16, 2003

: Right now we're saying every six months, but there's no rule until we

learn more. We just don't want A to accumulate to toxic levels. Even though

retinol levels are unreliable, I still would get a level before I gave at those

doses again, just in case. Jaquelyn

Re: Reposting Vit A Info

Is the 400,000iu for two days a one off treatment or can it be

repeated every week, month or quarter ?

thx

paul

> Re the 400,000iu for two days (Mega A Rx for measles):

>

> This is reposting of Vit A Rx for those who missed it. I'm

concerned that someone is giving 500,000iu in the CLO form because of

the danger of Vit D toxicity. Though current fears of that are

probably overestimated, I think it is unwise to give that much until

we learn a lot more.

>

> At the DAN!, (in PA) Dr. Sidney Baker spoke of a study showing that

200,000 iu of Vitamin A was not enough to ameliorate the impact of

measles infection - the children needed 400,000 iu for two days

(800,000 iu total). As I have said, if the rubeola IgA salivary

titers are elevated (per our study), IgG levels are very elevated,

the child has a history of strong reaction to MMR and/or followed by

regression soon thereafter, and certainly with brain antibodies

indicating autoimmune reaction, I believe there is indication they

may benefit from this large dose, followed by 10,000 to 25,000 per

day per age and size. Some parents are reporting benefit from even

smaller doses, as I was originally suggesting 250,000 iu 1st day,

then 200,000, then 150,000 etc. with maintenance at 10,000 to 25,000

(subtracting the up to 5000 in CLO, with the rest in fish oil A or

vit A palmitate.

>

> What kind to use? Fish oil vit. A vs vit. A palmitate? Dr. Pangborn

has given me the following information - " Per the Merck Index, the

palmitate form of all-trans or retinol is the preponderant ester in

fish liver oils (cod, shark). But I do not like synthetic vit A

palmitate unless one has to use pharmacologic doses such as Sid

(Baker) is describing. ------ Synthetic palmitate can be a problem in

allergically sensitive individuals. ----- Natural fish oil includes

all-trans-retinol, -ci-retinol, and probably some very similar

molecules. There's no guarantee that a synthetic palmitate will have

these. -----I'm wary of synthetics, but again, for >200,000 iu doses

one may have to use what's practical. (This is item 10150 ( " Vitamin

A " ) in the Merck index.

>

> To be practical in solid or powder supplements, one finds vit A

acetate. Some potency is lost in the acetate form, about 15%.

>

> Under 5000 iu, there's no reason to test serum retinol levels.

Actually, tests are not reliable anyway. The most important thing is

to watch for symptoms of A overdose: headache, nausea, dry scaly

skin, vertigo, blurred vision and erythema or rash. Serum calcium

will be elevated, as hypervitaminosis A features hypercalcemia. "

>

December 16, 2003