Vitamin A is often one of the less-discussed micronutrients in relation to bone health, taking a back seat to nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. Yet this fat-soluble vitamin plays a fundamental role in skeletal development, remodeling, and mineral homeostasis. It influences gene expression in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and contributes to the regulation of bone turnover throughout the lifespan.
But what makes vitamin A particularly interesting, and controversial, is that its effects on bone appear to follow a double-edged pattern. While it’s essential for bone formation, several large epidemiological studies have suggested that chronically high intakes of preformed vitamin A may actually increase the risk of osteoporosis and fracture, especially when consumed as retinol from supplements or high-liver diets. And yet, the picture is not so clear-cut.
This raises compelling questions:
- Is the concern over vitamin A and bone health justified, or is it a case of context-dependent risk?
- Can vitamin A, when combined with adequate levels of D and K, actually support bone strength?
- And are there thresholds above or below which risk increases?
In this episode, we explore the human evidence on vitamin A and skeletal health, looking not only at fracture outcomes and bone mineral density data, but also at nutrient interactions, mechanistic plausibility, and the implications for supplement use in well-nourished populations.
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Timestamps
- [00:23] Vitamin A and bone health: an overview
- [02:50] Forms of vitamin A: retinol and carotenoids
- [04:16] Mechanisms of vitamin A in bone physiology
- [17:52] Nutrient interactions: vitamin A, D, and K
- [31:03] Practical takeaways and recommendations
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