In a new study from the University of Gothenburg, researchers found consuming too much vitamin A may decrease bone thickness, leading to weak and fracture prone bones.
They found that sustained intake of vitamin A, at levels equivalent to 4.5-13 times the human recommended daily allowance (RDA), caused a strong weakening of the bones.
The finding suggests that people should be cautious of over-supplementing vitamin A in their diets.
Vitamin A is an essential vitamin that is important for numerous biological processes including growth, vision, immunity and organ function.
Our bodies are unable to make vitamin A but a healthy diet including meat, dairy products and vegetables should be sufficient to maintain the body’s nutritional needs.
Some evidence has suggested that people who take vitamin A supplements may be increasing their risk of bone damage.
Previous studies in mice have shown that short-term overdosing of vitamin A, at the equivalent of 13-142 times the recommended daily allowance in people, results in decreased bone thickness and increased fracture risk after just 1-2 weeks.
In this study, the team found that mice given lower doses of vitamin A, equivalent to 4.5-13 times the RDA in humans, over a longer time period, also showed thinning of their bones after just 8 days.
The finding showed that much lower concentrations of vitamin A, a range more relevant for humans, still decrease rodent bone thickness and strength.
The team says overconsumption of vitamin A may be an increasing problem as many more people now take vitamin supplements.
Overdose of vitamin A could be increasing the risk of bone weakening disorders in humans but more studies are needed to investigate this.
In the majority of cases, a balanced diet is perfectly sufficient to maintain the body’s nutritional needs for vitamin A.
If you care about vitamins, please read studies about this vitamin is particularly important for your cancer prevention and findings of this common vitamin may protect against blinding eye disease.
For more information about vitamins and your health, please see recent studies about vitamin D level in the body may influence your gut health and results showing that these vitamins may protect against respiratory infections.
The study is published in the Journal of Endocrinology. One author of the study is Dr Ulf Lerner.
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