How Does Vitamin A Affect My Bones?

Vitamin A is a family of fat-soluble compounds that take part in a main role in vision, bone growth, reproduction, cell division, and cell differentiation. Vitamin A is essential for healthy bones. Though, too much vitamin A has been connected to bone loss and a raise in the risk of hip fracture. Scientists think that too much amounts of vitamin A trigger an increase in osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone. They also thin about that too much vitamin A can interfere with vitamin D, which plays an main role in protect bone.

Retinol is the type of vitamin A that causes concern. In addition to receiving retinol from their diets, few people may be using synthetic retinoid preparations that are chemically alike to vitamin A to treat acne, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. These preparations have been exposed to have the same negative impact on bone health as dietary retinol. Use of these medications in children and teens has also been connected to delays in growth.

Beta-carotene, on the other hand, is mostly believe to be safe and has not been connected to adverse effects in bone or somewhere else in the body.