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Short-term vitamin A supplementation does not affect bone turnover in men
Tisha N Kawahara1, Diane C Krueger, Jean A Engelke
1Institute on Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. tnkawahara@facstaff.wisc.edu
The Journal of Nutrition
|June 4, 2002
Summary
High-dose vitamin A supplementation did not affect bone turnover markers in healthy men over six weeks. This suggests short-term vitamin A intake is unlikely to increase osteoporosis risk.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Bone Metabolism
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Excess vitamin A may negatively impact bone health by stimulating resorption and inhibiting formation.
- This raises concerns about vitamin A supplementation as a potential risk factor for osteoporosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of short-term vitamin A supplementation on markers of bone turnover in healthy adult men.
- To evaluate whether vitamin A intake influences key indicators of skeletal health.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, randomized, single-blind study involving 80 healthy men aged 18-58.
- Participants received either 7576 mcg (25,000 IU) of retinol palmitate daily or a placebo for six weeks.
- Serum levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP), N-telopeptide of type 1 collagen (NTx), and osteocalcin (Oc) were measured at baseline and various intervals.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in BSAP, NTx, or Oc levels between the vitamin A-supplemented group and the placebo group throughout the six-week study period.
- Serum markers of skeletal turnover remained stable in both groups.
Conclusions:
- Short-term vitamin A supplementation at the tested dosage does not appear to alter skeletal turnover markers in healthy men.
- These findings suggest that short-term vitamin A administration is unlikely to contribute to osteoporosis development.
- Further research is needed to determine potential long-term skeletal effects.