HYPERVITAMINOSIS A AND CAROTENEMIA

Abstract

The effect man of the ingestion of large amounts of carotene has been the subject of many articles in the past twenty years. On the other hand, knowledge of the results of overdosage with vitamin A is almost entirely confined to the effects rats and mice. The lack of experience with hypervitaminosis in man is easy to understand, since only artificial concentrates contain sufficient vitamin A to be dangerous, and the ability to obtain these is limited. Early recognition of the possible danger of hypervitaminosis has limited the employment of excessive amounts in therapy. Moreover, the zone of safety between an adequate prophylactic dose and a dangerous dose is very large. One safeguard is lacking, that against the zeal of a person who is sold on vitamins. We have recently observed a case in which enthusiasm for vitamin therapy was present in a mother and eventually in her