Long Term Supplementation with Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) and the Risk of Bone Fractures: A population based study.

在澳大利亚和其他人口日益老龄化的西方工业化国家，骨质疏松症是一个主要的健康问题。在澳大利亚，由于85岁及以上老年人的增加，预计1996年至2006年间髋部骨折的数量将增加36%。这与欧洲和北美的预测形成鲜明对比，预计到2026年，欧洲和北美的髋部骨折数量将翻一番，然后趋于稳定。澄清维生素A在骨骼健康中的作用是相关的，因为补充剂的使用在过去20年里在西方工业化国家显著增加。澳大利亚约37%的成年人经常服用补充剂，而美国成年人的这一比例从28%到54%不等，其中49岁以上的女性和成年人更有可能服用补充剂。此外，在食物中添加矿物质和维生素的情况正在增加。基于所有这些原因，澄清维生素A在诱发骨折中的作用是当务之急吗？这项研究的结果将有助于了解视黄醇和β胡萝卜素补充剂与骨骼健康有关的安全性，这与骨质疏松症风险人群和服用维生素A补充剂的人尤其相关。我们还将能够明确饮食中视黄醇、β胡萝卜素和维生素A摄入量的上限，超过这些水平，骨折风险会增加。由于我们研究对象的年龄范围，我们的结果应该适用于整个人群，而不仅仅是老年人或绝经后。我们的研究结果将对澳大利亚和新西兰等监管我们食品供应的机构有用。

Osteoporosis is a major health problem in Australia and other western industrialised countries where populations are increasingly ageing. In Australia, the number of hip fractures is expected to increase by 36% between 1996 and 2006, owing to the rise in elderly aged 85 years and over. This is in contrast to projections in Europe and North America, where the number of hip fractures are expected to double by 2026 and then stabilise. Clarification of the role of vitamin A in bone health is pertinent, given that the popularity of supplement use has increased markedly in western industrialised countries over the past two decades. Around 37% of the adult population in Australia is thought to take a supplement regularly and figures range from 28% to 54% of adults in the US, with women and adults aged over 49 years being more likely to use supplements. Furthermore, the fortification of food with minerals and vitamins is increasing. For all of these reasons, is it imperative that the role of vitamin A in inducing fractures be clarified. Results from this study will contribute to knowledge about the safety of retinol and beta carotene supplements in relation to bone health, which is especially relevant to people at risk of osteoporosis, and people who take vitamin A supplements. We will also be able to clarify the upper levels of dietary retinol, beta carotene and vitamin A intake beyond which fracture risk increases. Because of the age range of subjects in our study, our results should be applicable to the whole population, not only the elderly or post menopausal. The results of our study will be useful to agencies such as Food Standards Australia and New Zealand which regulates our food supply.