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

骨质疏松症是澳大利亚和其他人口日益老龄化的西方工业化国家的一个主要健康问题。在澳大利亚，由于85岁及以上老年人的增加，预计1996年至2006年期间髋部骨折的数量将增加36%。这与欧洲和北美的预测形成对比，预计到2026年，欧洲和北美髋部骨折的数量将翻一番，然后趋于稳定。鉴于在过去的二十年里，维生素A在西方工业化国家的普及程度显著增加，阐明维生素A在骨骼健康中的作用是有意义的。在澳大利亚，大约37%的成年人定期服用补充剂，而在美国，这一比例从28%到54%不等，其中女性和49岁以上的成年人更有可能服用补充剂。此外，添加矿物质和维生素的食品也在增加。由于所有这些原因，阐明维生素A在诱发骨折中的作用是否势在必行。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的安全性，这对有骨质疏松症风险的人和服用维生素A补充剂的人尤其重要。我们还将能够弄清膳食中视黄醇、β -胡萝卜素和维生素A摄入量的上限，超过这个上限，骨折风险就会增加。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监管我们食品供应的澳大利亚和新西兰食品标准局等机构有用。

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.