Men's Osteoporosis Support Group

Vitamin A and D and osteoporosis risk

Clin Biochem. 2010 Jun 17. [Epub ahead of print]. Vitamin D deficiency and high serum levels of vitamin A increase the risk of osteoporosis evaluated by Quantitative Ultrasound Measurements (QUS) in postmenopausal Spanish women. Mata-Granados JM and others. PMID: 20599880. This study included 232 healthy postmenopausal Spanish women whose serum retinol (vitamin A) and vitamin D levels were tested and correlated with bone mineral density (BMD) via quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements. Of these, 101 (44.9%) were osteoporotic, 36.4% had high retinol levels, and 70.1% were vitamin D deficient. And 60.4% of the women with vitamin D deficiency have high serum levels of retinol. Osteoporosis risk was three times higher in the highest retinol quintile. The authors concluded, "Our results show that high retinol levels together with vitamin D deficiency are hitherto an overlooked risk factor for osteoporosis."

Editor's comments. A previous Update explained that high serum retinol was a risk factor for fractures. Note that this risk only comes from ingesting supplements with vitamin A, not from eating food that has it. So read the labels of supplements and avoid those high in retinol.

Multiple Updates have discussed vitamin D as it relates to osteoporosis risk. Also there is an Osteoporosis Issues discussion of vitamin D on this site. The Mata-Granados and others study highlights the importance of having lab tests done to measure both serum retinol and vitamin D levels for those who have osteoporosis or are at risk. It would appear that serum retinol and vitamin D tests should be routinely done as part of osteoporosis screening. And, follow up testing might be indicated every couple of years, especially if you aren't responding normally when taking one of the approved osteoporosis medications.

This study was done on postmenopausal women, but there is no reason to assume it doesn't apply equally to men. Vitamins A and D are not gender-specific in their actions or effects.

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