Hi Friends,

Please find below some information out of the newsletter from Retina South
Africa.,

They point out that self medication can be dangerous.



Through study of the ABCR mutation that causes Stargardt Disease and Cone
Rod Dystrophy researchers have found that supplementation with Vitamin A or
Beta carotene may increase the rate of degeneration. Vitamin A is converted
in the retina to various forms of Retinol needed for the conversion of light
to energy and overloading the system with more Vitamin A may accelerate a
build up of by- products of Retinol and speed vision loss. Some forms of
Atypical RP may have been wrongly diagnosed and may in fact be ABCR Cone or
Cone- rod Dystrophies.

This information coupled with the known risks associated with high levels
of Vitamin A - the increased risk of lung cancer for smokers and the risk of
foetal abnormalities in early stages of pregnancy leads us to issue a
warning for retinal patients NOT to self medicate and to ensure that any
Vitamin supplementation is approved by their Eye specialist.



Best regards,

Markus



Markus Georg

www.pro-retina.org





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