Featured Article | January 2024
Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene
Bradford S. Weeks, M.D.
Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol. 18, Nos. 3 & 4, 2003
Discussed in the article:
- The role of vitamin A in cancer therapeutics, immune regulation, and its potential prophylactic and therapeutic role in the treatment of malignant melanoma.
- Clinical protocols for skin problems, visual problems, and immune deficiencies that require much higher doses of vitamin A for a discrete period of time to bolster vitamin A dependent metabolisms.
- “Megadosing” of vitamin A palmitate for specific orthomolecular indications, and the remarkable abilities of vitamin A when given in high doses over an extended period of time without toxicity.
- Potential toxic effects of vitamin A, with emphasis on the importance of dosage and the signs of vitamin A toxicity.
“Levels above 100,000 IU of vitamin A are considered toxic (hypervitaminosis) but clinical protocols for skin problems (acne, psoriasis, hyper-keratosis, ichthyosis), visual problems (xerophthalmia, night blindness), and immune deficiencies (viral infections, bronchitis, mucosal resilience), require much higher doses for a discrete period of time in order to bolster vitamin A dependent metabolisms.”
“So, we are concerning ourselves with potent substances which, in proper dosages, support life and promote the enjoyment of optimal health and function but, when absent or deficient render life and productivity itself unsupportable.”
