werner@aecom.UUCP (01/14/86)
> Regarding the fat soluable vitamins (eg. A, D, E), there is, again, a > great difference between a natural and a synthetic vitamin (even excluding > the left- vs. right-handed differences). It is possible to get an over- > dose of a synthetic fat-soluable vitamin. Indeed, the FDA, for a long > time, limited the amount of Vitamin A in a single tablet. Yet, there is > only one known case of Vitamin A toxicity with natural Vitamin A: someone > was stranded in Alaska, resorted to a diet of polar bear liver for a few > weeks, and had a slight case. > > Alan M. Marcum Actually, there are several cases of Vitamin A toxicity from Bear Livers. Hunters actually dying after a post-kill feast. Its not epidemic or anything, but it exists in a far more mundane manner than Alan's scenario. The myth that "natural" and "synthetic" vitamins differ in anything besides concentration and dose is one of the great canards of the 20th Century. It is repeated by vitamin salesman, and the well-intentioned misinformed, but it just ain't so. -- Craig Werner !philabs!aecom!werner "Sometimes you have to run as fast as you can just to stay in the same place."
hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath) (01/15/86)
In article <2193@aecom.UUCP> werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) writes: > The myth that "natural" and "synthetic" vitamins differ in anything >besides concentration and dose is one of the great canards of the 20th Century. >It is repeated by vitamin salesman, and the well-intentioned misinformed, but >it just ain't so. I may be in the misinformed category. My understanding is that "natural" and "synthetic" vitamins are chemically equal. However, the body's absorption and usage of vitamins depends on the conditions they're taken under. Vitamins in food are accompanied by all kinds of other stuff which interacts with them and the body to influence their action and absorption. Taking vitamin pills ("natural" or "synthetic") on an empty stomach isn't nearly as effective. My solution: I buy the cheapest vitamin supplement pills and take them with meals. What the heck -- can't hurt. > "Sometimes you have to run as fast as you can just to stay in the same place." Been doing that for years ... -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe) Citicorp(+)TTI 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. Geniuses are people so lazy they Santa Monica, CA 90405 do everything right the first time. (213) 450-9111, ext. 2483 {philabs,randvax,trwrb,vortex}!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe
avinash@ubvax.UUCP (Avinash Marathe) (01/17/86)
In article <3131@sun.UUCP> Alan Marcum writes: >> Regarding the fat soluable vitamins (eg. A, D, E), there is, again, a >> great difference between a natural and a synthetic vitamin (even excluding >> the left- vs. right-handed differences). It is possible to get an over- >> dose of a synthetic fat-soluable vitamin. Indeed, the FDA, for a long >> time, limited the amount of Vitamin A in a single tablet. Yet, there is >> only one known case of Vitamin A toxicity with natural Vitamin A: someone >> was stranded in Alaska, resorted to a diet of polar bear liver for a few >> weeks, and had a slight case. >> >> Alan M. Marcum To which Craig Werner responds: > > Actually, there are several cases of Vitamin A toxicity from Bear >Livers. Hunters actually dying after a post-kill feast. Its not epidemic >or anything, but it exists in a far more mundane manner than Alan's scenario. >-- > Craig Werner There is no way one can get Vitamin A toxicity from eating Vitamin A from vegetable sources. Actually, vegetable sources do not contain Vitamin A but the precursor to Vitamin A called beta-carotene. The liver converts as much beta-carotene as it needs into Vitamin A and the rest is excreted. Also beta-carotene is water soluble unlike Vitamin A. Beta-carotene is what gives carrots, melons, and squashes their orange/yellow color. One can definitely get vitamin A toxicity from animal or synthetic sources, because Vitamin A exists as Vitamin A in these sources. Avinash Marathe {ihnp4,decwrl,allegra}!amd!ubvax!avinash