Vitamin A: Miracle Cure You Need to Know – And the Dangers

Definition of Fancy Terms:

Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is the form of vitamin A found in animal products like meat, milk, and eggs. It is a yellow, fat-soluble crystal.

Pro-vitamin A, or carotenoids, refers to the type of vitamin A found in fruits and vegetables, with rich sources in green leafy vegetables. These carotenoids are converted into vitamin A by the liver.

It is always safe to take carotene in larger amounts because the liver only converts the amount needed by the body into vitamin A. The body regulates carotene conversion to avoid vitamin A toxicity.

The Healing Effect of Vitamin A:

Let's discover the basic dosage of Vitamin A supplementation.

The therapeutic dose of Vitamin A (not carotene) would be 25,000 units a day for only a few days.

During an acute viral infection, a single oral dose of 50,000 IU of vitamin A for 1-2 days is safe, even in infants.

Do not normally take 5,000 IU a day.

Vitamin A supplementation is very helpful for acute infections. Below are specific diseases that can benefit from vitamin A supplementation.

Acute Respiratory Infection:
200,000-300,000 IU per day of retinol palmitate (the least toxic form) for 1-2 weeks, then reduce the dose with the onset of toxicity symptoms such as dry skin, chapped lips, skin rash, hair loss, joint pain, and headaches.

Measles:
The World Health Organization recommends vitamin A supplementation for all children diagnosed with measles.

Infants younger than 6 months: 50,000 IU/day by mouth for 2 doses.
Age 6-11 months: 100,000 IU/day by mouth for 2 doses.
Older than 1 year: 200,000 IU/day by mouth for 2 doses.

Stage 1 Lung Cancer:
300,000 IU daily for 12 months of retinol palmitate is effective in reducing the number of new primary tumors related to tobacco consumption.

The Toxicity of Vitamin A:

Toxicity occurs in adults who take more than 50,000 IU per day for several years.

Regular use of 50,000 IU can cause weakness, hair loss, enlarged liver and spleen, anemia, stiffness, and joint pain.

Pregnant women should not ingest more than 10,000 IU of vitamin A supplements per day due to the possibility of birth defects when taken in excess.

That’s all. Writing this to you helps me review the dosages of Vitamin A.
I learn more when I share what I know. :)

Sources:
Textbook of Clinical Nutrition and Functional Medicine by Dr. Alex Vasquez
Natural Remedies Encyclopedia by Vance Ferrell