Vitamin A toxicity

EARLY SEAFARERS BECAME ILL WHEN EATING LIVER FROM POLAR BEARS AND SEALS

Serious incidents with consumption of liver from arctic mammals:

• Willem Barents discovered Svalbard in 1596: His crew became ill after eating polar bear liver and their skin started to peel.

• An English expedition to Franz Josefs Land 1894-97 also reported headaches, womiting and peeling of skin after a meal of polar bear liver.

• A Danish North Pole expedition in 1907 reported that 19 men became ill after eating polar bear liver: headaches, peeling of skin, womiting, cramps, 'mental confusion' and insanity.

Kåre Rodahl showed in 1947 that these symptoms were due to vitamin A poisoning.

Consumption of liver

Liver from arctic mammals (polar bear and bearded seal) is tabu among Eskimos.

• 150 g liver = 250-1000 mg retinol
• Acute symptoms: headaches, vomiting, dizziness

Liver from ringed seal is accepted among the Inuits.

• 150 g liver = 10 – 250 mg retinol

Liver from farm animals is used in many areas around the world.

• 150 g liver = 25 - 75 mg retinol