I guess it's up to each person to look at the facts and decide for themselves about Oncovite and vitamin A.
Here's some information from a pharmacist (me) looking in his "Facts and Comparisons"
Toxicity manifistations depend on patient's age, dosage, and duration of administration.
Chronic toxicity: Hypercalcemia (high calcium levels);
dry scaly skin; bone pain; changes in texture of hair and nails; increased cerebrospinal pressure; pruritis (itching);
headache; nausea; irreversible bone changes (eg. demineralization); thinning of long bones; etc.
They go on to say that chronic toxicity may manifest itself in doses over 1,000,000 IU/day for 3 days, or 500,000 IU/day for 2 months, or
50,000 IU/day for18 months.
If you take 4 Oncovite per day, it only amounts to 36,000 IU/day.
Of course, if you take 36,000 IU/day for more than 18 months would that lead to chronic toxicity? I don't know? Maybe, since the "duration of administration" seems to be important.
Of course my doctor hadn't even heard of Oncovite so, no help there. I cut down from taking 4 per day to 1 per day. I'm thinking I'll get some of the good stuff from Oncovite and avoid the POSSIBILITY of more serious stuff.
Also, the form of vitamin A in Oncovite is not beta-carotene, it's vitamin A acetate.
Also, the studies that show taking vitamin A (actually beta-carotene) leading to increased lung cancer was linked to smokers only.
Hope this info helps? If anyone has more info, this is a good place to post it.
If anyone is taking it long term, high dosage, and want a complete list of the symptoms of Hypervitaminosis A, let me know and I'll send them a list.
And, on a personal note, I passed my first follow up cystoscopy exam at 3 months, tumor free. The Doc said: "See you back here in 4 months".
I'm a happy guy!