Health e-Tips
Toxic vitamins?
Q: I always thought beta-carotene and vitamin A were the same thing, but
my wife is trying to tell me that vitamin A is toxic!
And I know that beta-carotene can't be toxic because I take it every day
in a supplement my optometrist gave me. But now I'm curious. Can you
clear this up for us?
JVW: It's true that beta-carotene and vitamin A are related, but
they aren't the same. Beta-carotene is found in fruits and vegetables,
especially orange- and yellow-colored varieties, as well as leafy
greens. While it can be converted into vitamin A in the body, the body's
capacity for making this conversion is somewhat limited, which is why I
usually recommend vitamin A for
specific conditions, rather than relying on beta-carotene to do the job
on its own.
Vitamin A is found in meat, liver, eggs, and dairy products. It is true
that too much vitamin A (hypervitaminosis A, as it's
called) can lead to birth defects, liver abnormalities, and reduced bone
mineral density, which can increase the risk of osteoporosis. But
vitamin A deficiency can also be a very serious problem. Night blindness
can be one of the first symptoms of vitamin A deficiency.
Many doctors shy away from using high doses of vitamin A therapeutically
because of the toxicity risk, but I've found that in cases of acute
infection, a short course of high dose vitamin A is highly effective and
still safe. Of course, this type of therapy should never be used when a
patient is pregnant,
and only under the supervision of a health care practitioner.
What is... Retinitis Pigmentosa?
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) refers to a group of inherited disorders that
cause gradual degeneration of the retina. Loss of
or diminished night vision is one of the earliest and most frequent
signs of RP. Peripheral vision is also often affected. Sometimes RP
results in complete blindness, although many do retain some central
vision throughout their life even if they began experiencing progression
in early adulthood.
The progression and severity of RP varies in each case. While it
is considered a genetic disorder, and much of the current research into
the disease is focusing on ways to genetically alter its course, current
therapeutic practice shows that a daily dose of 15,000 IU of vitamin A
can slow the progression of
the disease. Supplementing with vitamin D and calcium (always
together!) has also proven beneficial in many cases.
If you have anyone with RP in your family, or you're experiencing
possible symptoms, be sure to get tested by your eye care specialist
right away. Early detection and supplementation could make a big
difference in what is otherwise
not a highly treatable disease.
Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Managing Editor
Nutrition & Healing


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