IRRADIATED ERGOSTEROL POISONING

Abstract

During the past five years there have been an increasing number of clinical reports regarding the use of massive doses'of vitamin D in the treatment of rickets, tetany, rheumatoid arthritis and various allergic states.¹ We shall make no attempt to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of vitamin D or its concentrates in these conditions but shall rather put out a suggestion of caution regarding the possible ill effects that may follow, under certain circumstances at least, the employment of massive doses of the vitamin. That vitamin D and the irradiated sterol concentrates may produce toxic reactions has been recognized for many years. Numerous writers have described the occurrence of anorexia, loss of weight, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, muscular weakness, headaches, polyuria and polydipsia in both man and animals. Acute intoxications in animals have resulted in coma and death.² Only two or three deaths have been described in man.