Limiting vitamin A intake may be desirable for some
People who are at risk of bone fractures and those who eat liver regularly may be advised to limit their intake of vitamin A.
A draft report (PDF 560K) published
by the Government’s Scientific Advisory
Committee on Nutrition concludes that post-menopausal women and older
people should not consume more than 1.5mg of vitamin A each day. It also
recommends that people who eat liver regularly (once a week or more)
should not increase this amount and should not take supplements containing
vitamin A.
The committee was asked by the Food Standards Agency to examine data
relating to the suggestion that high intakes of vitamin A may increase
the risk of bone fractures in the long term. It found insufficient evidence
to justify a change in dietary advice to all consumers but highlighted
the groups of people for which precautionary measures may be sensible.
Peter Aggett, a member of the SACN, said: “Our initial conclusions
are that although there is insufficient evidence on the relationship
between vitamin A and bone health to warrant a change in advice to all
consumers, it may be advisable for some population groups to limit their
vitamin A intakes. The report will be reviewed in light of any comments
received or new research and we will then present our final conclusions
to the FSA later this year.”
The draft report is available online (PDF 560K).
Chromium picolinate Advice about the dietary supplement chromium
picolinate has also been updated. The Food Standards Agency has revised
its earlier recommendation that chromium picolinate should be avoided
because of safety concerns (PJ, 17 May 2003, p671), now stating that
the supplement is safe. A review by the Committee on Mutagenicity
(an independent committee that advises the FSA and Department of
Health) has concluded that earlier suggestions that chromium picolinate
might be genotoxic are not backed up by available evidence.
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