Vitamin A and Hip Fractures

[Guest guest]

Vitamin A and Hip Fractures

 

Vitamin A intake and hip fractures among postmenopausal women in the January 2,

2002 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a

long-term dietary intake of a diet high in retinol may promote osteoporotic hip

fractures in women.1 This 18-year study among postmenopausal women in the

Nurses' Health Study from 1980 to 1998 found women who took the most vitamin A

(more than 2000 ug/d) had almost twice the risk of hip fractures as did women

with the least intake (less than 500 ug/d). Women taking a vitamin A supplement

had a 40% greater risk of hip fractures than those not taking supplements. In

contrast, the plant form of vitamin A, beta carotene, was not related to an

increased risk.

 

COMMENT: Vitamin A refers to a family of essential, fat soluble, micronutrients

required for vision, growth, and the immune system. Night blindness is the most

common and earliest discovered condition caused by vitamin A deficiency. .

Ancient Greeks recommended liver to cure night blindness. The most potent form

of vitamin A is called retinol. This form is found in animal products and

vitamin supplements. The vegetable form of vitamin A is beta-carotene - which

is actually a non-toxic precursor of vitamin A (sometimes called pro-vitamin A)

that is converted in the body into retinol and stored in the liver. The plant

forms of vitamin A are never toxic and the only common side effect is an orange

discoloration of the skin.

 

As mentioned, the toxic form of vitamin A, retinol, is found in vitamin

supplements and animal foods. Liver is the highest food source of retinol.

Smaller amounts are also found in organ meats, whole small fish, eggs, butter

and other dairy products. Manufacturers also add retinol to foods in order to

fortify them. Skim milk, breakfast cereals and meal replacement supplements are

examples of retinal fortified foods.

 

Vitamin supplements may contain as much as 3000 ug of retinal.

 

Toxicity from chronic ingestion of retinol results in hair loss, bone and muscle

pain, dry skin, visual impairment, poor balance, and other problems with the

nervous system. Excess doses also produce severe birth defects, including

spontaneous abortion and major malformations.2 Thus women who may become

pregnant need to be very careful about their intake of retinol from animal foods

and vitamin pills.

 

Vitamin A is known to stimulate the breakdown of bone, raise blood calcium

levels, and suppress the bone-building effect of vitamin D. People treated with

vitamin A for skin diseases have been found to have less bone material, as well

as markers of increased bone turnover (such as protein fragments found in the

urine).

 

Therefore, to avoid problems of vitamin A toxicity and to be certain you have

all the healthful vitamin A that your body needs you should rely upon the plant

kingdom - especially plants with color. Provitamin A and other important

vitamins are particularly abundant in carrots, dark green leafy vegetables,

yams, tomatoes, corn and fruits. Relying upon the plant kingdom for your food

also avoids the most important causes of bone loss which are the animal protein

and the high acid content of animal foods.3,4,5 Add a reasonable exercise

routine and you will have a set of bones that will last you a long lifetime.

 

~Janice~

Be your own cheerleader! Encourage yourself every step of the way!

 

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.

-Eleanor Roosevelt-

 

" Do not blame others for making you mad. Anger is a choice. Choose wisely "

 

If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.

~Paul McCartney ~