Natural foods which can cause Vitamin A toxicity

Most of the people think that it is impossible to develop vitamin toxicity by consumption of the natural foods. But this is a myth. Even though vitamin toxicity develops very rarely with natural foods but it is usually due to the oral intake of lipid soluble vitamins. There are well documented cases of acute vitamin toxicity, which developed after the consumption of certain food items. As you all know liver of any animal is responsible for detoxification of toxins and the storage of vitamins. This mechanism is really important for the storage of vitamin A and due to this most of the animal livers contain high amount of Vitamin A. But this amount in many animals is not adequate to cause acute vitamin A toxicity. But, polar bear liver, whale liver, shark liver and the lowly tuna liver may contain very high amount of vitamin A . This amount of Vitamin A may be adequate to cause acute vitamin A toxicity. First case of Vitamin A toxicity has described in 1597 by Gerrit ge Veer in the arctic. He is a carpenter and the crew of the ship he worked developed serious symptoms after eating a polar bear liver. Symptoms of acute vitamin A toxicity are headache, dizziness, vomiting, stupor and blurred vision.
Next time when you eat a polar bear liver, even though it is a great delicacy, keep in mind to eat in moderation. If you develop above symptoms after that better to seek medical attention immediately.

Can you die from vitamin toxicity or Hypervitaminosis?

When we talk about the vitamin toxicity we can categorize all the vitamins into two broad categories based on the solubility.
Water soluble

Water soluble Vitamins are,
Vitamin B complex
Vitamin C

These vitamins are highly soluble in water and readily excreted in urine. Even a higher dosage is taken toxicity is rare. But with very high doses complications can occur. So Vitamin toxicity due to high doses of Vitamin B complex and Vitamin C are rare. In people whose renal functions are compromised these water soluble Vitamins are not properly excreted from the body. So In that case toxicity and death can occur.

Lipid soluble

Lipid soluble vitamins are,
Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin K

these vitamins are not water soluble and not highly excreted in urine. So even in a marginal increase over the amount which can be excreted may result in accumulation of lipid soluble vitamins and sometimes death can result if the toxicity is not treated properly.


Vitamin A Toxicity

Vitamin A toxicity is relatively common and can be categorized into acute toxicity and chronic toxicity. Acute toxicity of vitamin A occurs after an ingestion of a large amount of vitamin A. Symptoms of acute vitamin A toxicity include headache, dizziness, vomiting , stupor, and blurred vision. These symptoms may mimic a brain tumor.
Symptoms of chronic vitamin A toxicity includes weight loss, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, bone pain and joint pain. Both these toxicities can ultimately lead to the death.

Vitamin D toxicity
Vitamin D toxicity in small children may produce metastatic calcification. In adults it can cause bone pain and hypercalcaemia. As toxic potential of Vitamin D is high in sufficiently large doses it can cause death.