Loading ...Nutrients & HealthLessons Learned from Too Much Vitamin A
Too much of anything can kill you, even vitamins. Vitamin A serves as a good example. In the early 1960s, scientists found that vitamin A boosted immunity and prevented blindness in third world countries.
A study in Indonesia showed that vitamin A supplementation prevented up to a remarkable 50% of childhood deaths caused by disease.1 As people began to learn of its benefits, supplementation became common. That’s when scientists discovered that it was possible to overdose on vitamin A at a mere 20 mg per day.
People who had overdosed on vitamin A had symptoms like water in the brain, vomiting, fatigue, constipation, bone pain, and severe headaches. Dry pale skin also occurred.
Scientists then began looking at vitamin A precursors as a means of preventing toxicity. (A vitamin precursor is a natural substance that can be transformed into the vitamin itself.)
They found that the human body uses beta-carotene to produce vitamin A, but surprisingly, only when it’s needed! This means that utilizing its “natural intelligence,” the body ensures that you have plenty of vitamin A courtesy of beta-carotene — but won’t let you overdose! Once again, Mother Nature proves to be our best teacher.
To ensure that your body safely gets plenty of disease-fighting vitamin A, eat a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene. The best sources are sweet potatoes, spinach and goji berries.
Reference
- Jennings, E. Apricots and Oncogenes. McGuire & Beckley Books, Cleveland, Ohio, 1993.
[Ed. Note: Shane Ellison is known as "The People's Chemist." He holds a Master's degree in organic chemistry and has first-hand industry experience with drug research, design and synthesis. He is the author of Health Myths Exposed and The Hidden Truth about Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs. To learn more, .]
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Tags: goji berries, spinach, sweet potatoes, vitamin a, vitamin toxicity
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