Some ongoing vitamin A research I'm stockpiling

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Just some ongoing vitamin A research for my files, thought others might be

interested.....LWinn

..............However, doses as high as 500,000 - 1,000,000 IU per day extending

over several years have not caused any adverse effects in many

people............

from

http://www.home.caregroup.org/clinical/altmed/interactions/Nutrients/Vitamin_A.h\

tm

...........with age-related macular degeneration, the most common cause of loss

of vision in the elderly. In an SFD family, it was found that vitamin A at

50,000 IU daily resolved night blindness within a week in those members of the

family who were at early stages of the disease. The mechanism of this effect is

not clear. ........

....................Acute toxicity in infants or children can occur with a single

dose of 25,000 IU per kilogram of body weight. Vomiting, increased intracranial

pressure and death may occur. A dose of 2,000,000 IU or greater in adults, can

cause a similar clinical picture. Some Arctic explorers have ingested several

million units of vitamin A from eating polar bear or seal liver, two of the

richest sources of vitamin A. The Arctic explorers developed irritability,

drowsiness, headache and vomiting. There are few reports of fatalities with such

high doses of vitamin A...............................

(they probably did not have measles)

from

http://www.gettingwell.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/vit_0260.shtml

...........In a 1979 study, surgery patients were treated with Vitamin A for 7

days before surgery. They were given 300 - 450,000 IU Vitamin A/day. (The 1980

U.S. RDA for Vitamin A is 5000 IU) T lymphocyte counts were taken at 1 and 7

days post-surgery. T lymphocyte counts rose by day 7 in the Vitamin A group,

while surgery patient controls not given Vitamin A suffered the usual

post-surgical severe T cell immunosuppression. No Vitamin A-toxicity symptoms

were observed in the Vitamin A patients. (23)..............

(and a major cause of death is a pnemonia infection developed after hospital

stay???)

from http://www.offshorepharmacy.net/ias-aging-immunity.htm

Toxicity and symptoms of high Vitamin A intake

Dosages exceeding 15,000 IU per day must be taken under medical supervision.

Toxicity can appear in some individuals at relatively low dosages and the

symptoms may include nausea, dizziness, menstrual problems, skin changes and

dryness, itchiness, irritability, vomiting and long term use can cause hair

loss, bone and muscle pain, headache, liver damage, and an increase in blood

lipid concentrations.

Pregnant women must be careful as a high intake of this vitamin can cause birth

defects. Pro-vitamin A - beta-carotene does not cause toxicity. Be careful if

you in the unlikely event run across polar bear on a menu - 500 gram (about ½ a

pound) of polar bear liver will deliver about 9,000,000 IU to your diet - a very

lethal dose. Headaches, blurred vision, loss of hair, drowsiness and diarrhea,

enlargement of the spleen and liver can all be indications when your intake is

too high.

Best used with

Take vitamin A with B group vitamins, vitamins C, D and E, choline, essential

fatty acids together with calcium, phosphorus and zinc for the best results.

When more Vitamin A may be required

More of this vitamin is required when you consume alcohol, are on a low-fat

diet, or a diet high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, if you smoke or live in a

polluted area. It may also be indicated if you suffer from diabetes or have an

under-active thyroid gland. Be careful of vitamin A in pregnancy.

Enemy of Vitamin A

Retinol is destroyed by light, high temperatures as well as when using copper or

iron cooking utensils. Beta-carotene rich vegetables and fruit must not be

soaked in water for long periods, since the nutrients can be lost.

Other interesting points

There seems to be no toxicity when ingesting large amounts of beta-carotene -

you might however have a slightly orange colored skin, as the carotene gets

stored in the skin.

Food sources of Vitamin A

Liver, milk, egg-yolk, carrots, dark green leafy vegetables and yellow fruits

are high in vitamin A or beta-carotene.

(no more polar bear livers for me!) from...

http://www.dermaxime.com/antioxidants_aging.htm#Vitamin%20A

......At least 3 million children develop xeropthalmia, damage to the cornea of

the eye, and 250,000 to 500,000 go blind each year from a deficiency of vitamin

A (1). Most of these children live in developing countries. Night blindness is

one of the first signs of vitamin A deficiency. In ancient Egypt it was known

that night blindness could be cured by eating liver, which was later found to be

a rich source of vitamin A (2). Vitamin A deficiency contributes to blindness by

making the cornea very dry and promoting damage to the retina and cornea(23).

Vitamin A deficiency diminishes the ability to fight infections.

In countries where immunization programs are not widespread and vitamin A

deficiency is common, millions of children die each year from complications of

infectious diseases such as measles. (9). When there is not enough vitamin A,

cells lining the lung lose their ability to remove disease-causing

microorganisms. This may contribute to the pneumonia associated with vitamin A

deficiency (2,10,11). ......

from

http://www.harmonywomenshealth.com/web/FramedArticle.aspx?Bar=MoreInfo & ArticleId\

=VitaminACarotenoids