Learn the incredible and tragic story of Swiss polar explorer Xavier Mertz, the first documented case of death from vitamin A poisoning. Stranded during a harrowing Antarctica expedition in 1913, Mertz and his team were forced to eat their husky dogs. Discover why consuming the liver of a husky dog proved fatal: it contains incredibly high levels of fat-soluble vitamin A (retinoids), which is highly toxic to humans in large amounts. Understand the dangers of preformed vitamin A toxicity from sources like liver, compared to harmless carotenoids found in vegetables. Explore this historical tale of survival, the unique physiology of polar animals, and the surprising science behind vitamin A toxicity.
