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Is vitamin A consumption a risk factor for osteoporotic fracture?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2007

Margo E. Barker*
Affiliation:
Human Nutrition Unit1 and Bone Metabolism Unit2, Division of Clinical Sciences (North), University of Sheffield, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK
Aubrey Blumsohn
Affiliation:
Human Nutrition Unit1 and Bone Metabolism Unit2, Division of Clinical Sciences (North), University of Sheffield, Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield S5 7AU, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Margo E. Barker, fax +44 114 261 0112, m.e.barker@sheffield.ac.uk
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Abstract

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Severe vitamin A toxicity is known to have adverse effects on skeletal health. Studies involving animal models and case reports have documented that hypervitaminosis A is associated with bone resorption, hypercalcaemia and bone abnormalities. More recently, some epidemiological studies have suggested that high habitual intake of vitamin A could contribute to low bone mineral content and fracture risk. The evidence relating to the possible deleterious role of vitamin A in bone health is of variable quality and is potentially confounded by collinearity of nutrient intake and difficulties in assessing vitamin A exposure. Furthermore, because intake of vitamin A varies between studies it is not possible to define an intake threshold associated with harm.

Type
Meeting Report
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2003

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