by STEPHEN
BYRNES, ND, RNCP
Vitamin A earned its name
from the fact that it was the first vitamin discovered. Researchers in the
1930s described vitamin A as the "anti-infective vitamin" as it is
intimately involved in the health of the mucous membranes and in fighting
off infections.
Since its discovery, vitamin
A has been shown to be pivotal in several bodily functions: formation of
"visual purple" which allows us to see partially in low light; maintenance
of healthy vision and proper eye function; repair and maintenance of
epithelial tissues, especially those of the skin and mucous membranes;
maintenance of the endocrine system, especially the thyroid gland; proper
utilization of dietary proteins; and stimulation of the thymus gland, a
major part of the immune system.
Supplementation, then, of
vitamin A could be of great help to someone who is facing vision problems,
poor thyroid function, weakened immunity, and assorted infections,
particularly those of the respiratory and urinary tract (these areas are
lined with mucous membranes). When approaching supplementation, a couple
of things need to be kept in mind:
1. Supplements of
beta-carotene (or foods containing it such as orange and yellow plant
foods) are NOT the same as those with vitamin A. Beta-carotene is the
metabolic precursor of vitamin A; it must be converted into real vitamin A
in the intestines along with the help of bile salts, thyroid hormone, and
dietary fat. Infants, and those with diabetes, alcoholism, hypothyroidism,
and/or liver or gall bladder problems cannot make this conversion.
Additionally, the body's conversion of beta-carotene to active vitamin A
is very poor: it takes roughly 6 units of beta-carotene to make just one
unit of vitamin A. Be sure, then, that you pruchase supplements that very
clearly state that they are REAL vitamin A and not beta-carotene.
2. Consumers are often warned
that vitamin A can be toxic if taken to excess. Pregnant women are also
warned that too much vitamin A can cause birth defects. Such warnings are
overblown. Though vitamin A can produce toxicity symptoms if taken to
excess, it takes a huge and massive amount to generate them. There have
been studies done of people who have taken 300,000 units of vitamin A a
day for over a year with NO adverse effects. One has little to fear of
overdosing on this nutrient. Additionally, the toxicity symptoms of excess
vitamin A disappear quickly once supplementation is stopped.Studies done
on pregnant women with vitamin A were actually done with an acne medicine
made from a synthetic derivative of synthetic vitamin A -- in other words,
a drug, not real vitamin A.
Native peoples the world over
take special care to feed vitamin A-rich foods to pregnant women: liver,
fish roe, eggs, butter, and cream. One does not see birth defects in these
people. As far as the amount to take, this is a matter of debate.
Obviously, children need to take less than adults. Also, the right amount
for one person may not be the same as another. Consulting with a clinical
nutritionist or orthomolecular physician would be a wise choice in
determining the right amount for you.
A safe amount I've used with
my adult HIV/AIDS clients is 25,000 IU's a day. In case of respiratory or
urinary infections, I'll increase it to as much as 200,000 IU's a day for
5-10 days (along with other substances needed by the body to oversome the
infection). Supplementing with vitamin A could be a wise choice for those
facing immune system weakness, in combination with a nutrient-dense diet
that eliminates refined sugars, vegetable oils, processed foods, and
drugs.
Stephen Byrnes, ND, RNCP
