Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site wivax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!decvax!wivax!dyer
From: dyer@wivax.UUCP (Stephen Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Vitamin A and Polar Bears...
Message-ID: <19020@wivax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 11-Dec-83 12:27:53 EST
Article-I.D.: wivax.19020
Posted: Sun Dec 11 12:27:53 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 13-Dec-83 01:47:20 EST
References: <452@seismo.UUCP>, <587@ut-sally.UUCP>
Organization: Wang Institute, Tyngsboro, Ma.  01879
Lines: 20

G&G, same page...

"@i(Acute) poisoning is known to follow ingestion of polar bear
liver.  Signs and symptoms include drowsiness, sluggishness,
irritability or irresistible desire to sleep, severe headache,
vomiting, papilledema, and, after 24 hours, generalized peeling
of the skin.  The high content of vitamin A in polar bear liver,
up to 12mg of retinol per gram (Russell, 1967), is responsible for
the symdrome.  The acute consumption of more than 500mg or a daily
intake exceeding 50mg of retinol frequently results in toxic effects
in adults."

IUs (international units) measure vitamin A activity independent
of the particular form of the vitamin--retinol is the most common
one.  500mg of retinol is roughly 1,666,666 IU's of vitamin A, or
66 capsules containing 25000 IU's of vitamin A.
-- 
/Steve Dyer
decvax!bbncca!sdyer
sdyer@bbncca