Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Vitamin D insufficiency together with high serum levels of vitamin A increases the risk for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Archives of Osteoporosis Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Summary

Postmenopausal women who were vitamin D deficient and had high serum levels of retinol had an eight times higher risk of having osteoporosis. A high retinol level together with vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is an additional risk factor for osteoporosis.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency and excess of vitamin A intake as an osteoporosis risk factor in healthy postmenopausal women

Design

The design is a cross-sectional study of 232 healthy postmenopausal women.

Methods

Bone mass was evaluated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum calcium, albumin phosphorus, creatinine, total high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides analyzed by standard methods and retinol and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] measured by an online solid-phase extraction coupled with high-pressure liquid chromatography–ultraviolet detection.

Results

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL] was 70.1 %; 14.3 % had a 25(OH)D < 10 ng/mL, and 23.6 % had insufficiency [25(OH)D 21–29 ng/mL]. Prevalence of high serum levels of retinol (>80 μg/dL) was 36.4 %. Among subjects with 25(OH)D <20 ng/mL (n = 152), 60.4 % (n = 92) had serum levels of retinol > 80 μg/dL. Bone density measurements revealed that the risk of osteoporosis was ~8 times higher in women with the highest retinol levels, as compared with women with the lowest retinol levels. In women with 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL, the risk for osteoporosis increased substantially in women who had the highest blood levels of retinol compared to the women with lowest retinol levels.

Conclusions

Higher retinol levels together with vitamin D deficiency could be a significant additional risk factor for osteoporosis, underscoring the need for improved physician and public education regarding optimization of vitamin D status in postmenopausal women and developing policies to avoid high serum levels of vitamin A.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Holick MF (2007) Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med 357:266–281

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Lips P (2001) Vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism in the elderly: consequences for bone loss and fractures and therapeutic implications. Endocr Rev 22:477–501

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Giovannucci E, Willett WC, Dietrich T, Dawson-Hughes B (2006) Estimation of optimal serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D for multiple health outcomes. Am J Clin Nutr 84:18–28

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. IOM (Institute of Medicine) (2011) Dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D. Institute of Medicine Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. The National Academies, Washington, DC

  5. Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Gordon CM, Hanley DA, Heaney RP, Murad MH, Weaver CM (2011) Evaluation, treatment & prevention of vitamin d deficiency: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 96(7):1911–1930

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Holick MF, Siris ES, Binkley N, Beard MK, Khan A, Katzer JT et al (2005) Prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy among postmenopausal North American women receiving osteoporosis therapy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:3215–3224

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lips P, Hosking D, Lippuner K, Norquist JM, Eehreb L, Maalouf G et al (2006) The prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy amongst women with osteoporosis: an international epidemiological investigation. J Intern Med 260:245–254

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Quesada Gómez JM, Mata Granados JM, Delgadillo J, Ramírez R (2007) Low calcium intake and insufficient serum vitamin D status in treated and non-treated postmenopausal osteoporotic women in Spain. J Bone Miner Metab 22:S309

    Google Scholar 

  9. Scheven BA, Hamilton NJ (1990) Retinoic acid and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 stimulate osteoclast formation by different mechanisms. Bone 11:53–59

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Abu-Hijleh G, Padmanabhan R (1997) Retinoic acid-induced abnormal development of hind limb joints in the mouse. Eur J Morphol 35:327–336

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hough S, Avioli LV, Muir H, Gelderblom D, Jenkins G, Kurasi H et al (1988) Effects of hypervitaminosis A on the bone and mineral metabolism of the rat. Endocrinology 122:2933–2939

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Moore T, Sharman IM (1979) Hypervitaminosis A combined with calcium deficiency in rats. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 49:14–20

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Oreffo RO, Teti A, Triffitt JT, Francis MJ, Carano A, Zallone AZ (1988) Effect of vitamin A on bone resorption: evidence for direct stimulation of isolated chicken osteoclasts by retinol and retinoic acid. J Bone Miner Res 3:203–210

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Clark L, Seawright AA, Gartner RJ (1971) Long bone abnormalities in kittens following vitamin A toxicosis in kittens. J Comp Pathol 81:365–371

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Melhus H, Michaelsson K, Kindmark A, Reinhold B, Holmberg L, Hans M et al (1998) Excessive dietary intake of vitamin A is associated with reduced bone mineral density and increased risk for hip fracture. Ann Intern Med 129:770–778

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Feskanich D, Singh V, Willett WC, Colditz GA (2002) Vitamin A intake and hip fractures among postmenopausal women. JAMA 287:47–54

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Michaelsson K, Lithell H, Vessby B, Melhus H (2003) Serum retinol levels and the risk of fracture. N Engl J Med 348:287–294

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Promislow JHE, Goodman-Gruen D, Slymen DJ, Barrett-Connor E (2002) Retinol intake and bone mineral density in the elderly: the Rancho-Bernardo study. J Bone Miner Res 17:1349–1358

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Opotowsky AR, Bilezikian JP (2004) Serum vitamin A concentration and the risk of hip fracture among women 50 to 74 years old in the United States: a prospective analysis of the NHANES I follow-up study. Am J Med 117:169–174

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Mata-Granados JM, Luque de Castro MD, Quesada Gómez JM (2008) Inappropriate serum levels of retinol, alpha-tocopherol, 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 and 24,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 levels in healthy Spanish adults: simultaneous assessment by HPLC. Clin Biochem 41:676–680

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Rosen CJ, Morrison A, Zhou H, Storm D, Hunter SJ, Musgrave K et al (1994) Elderly women in northern New England exhibit seasonal changes in bone mineral density and calciotropic hormones. Bone Miner 1994(25):83–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. O’Neill TW, Cooper C, Cannata JB, Díaz López JB, Hoszowski K, Johnell O et al (1994) Reproducibility of a questionnaire on risk factors for osteoporosis in a multicentre prevalence survey: the European Vertebral Osteoporosis Study. Int J Epidemiol 23:559–565

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Mata-Granados JM, Quesada Gómez JM, Luque de Castro MD (2009) Fully automatic method for the determination of fat soluble vitamins and vitamin D metabolites in serum. Clin Chim Acta 403:126–130

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Diaz Curiel M, Carrasco de la Peña JL, Honorato Pérez J, Pérez Cano R, Rapado A, Ruiz Martínez I (1997) Study of BMD in lumbar spine and femoral neck in a Spanish population. Multicentre Research Project on Osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int 7:59–64

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Kanis JA, Melton LJ, Christiansen C, Johnston CC, Khaltaev N (1994) The diagnosis of osteoporosis. J Bone Miner Res 9:17–1141

    Google Scholar 

  26. Lips P, Duong T, Oleksik AM, Black D, Cummings S, Cox D et al (2001) A global study of vitamin D status and parathyroid function in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: baseline data from the multiple outcomes of raloxifene evaluation clinical trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86:1212–1221

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lips P (2007) Vitamin D status and nutrition in Europe and Asia. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 103:620–625

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Jacobs ET, Alberts DS, Foote JA, Green SB, Hollis BW, Yu Z, Martínez ME (2008) Vitamin D insufficiency in southern Arizona. Am J Clin Nutr 87:608–613

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Olmedilla B, Granado F, Southon S, Wright AJ, Blanco I, Gil-Martínez E et al (2001) Serum concentrations of carotenoids and vitamins A, E, and C in control subjects from five European countries. Br J Nutr 85:227–238

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Úbeda N, Basagoiti M, Alonso-Aperte E, Varela-Moreiras G (2007) Hábitos alimentarios, estado nutricional y estilos de vida en una población de mujeres menopáusicas españolas. Nutr Hosp 22:313–321

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Trumbo P, Yates AA, Schlicker S, Poos M (2001) Dietary reference intakes: vitamin A, vitamin K, arsenic, boron, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silicon, vanadium, and zinc. J Am Diet Assoc 101:294–301

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Cruz JA, Moreiras-Varela O, van Staveren WA, Trichopoulou A, Roszkowski W (1991) Intakes of vitamins and minerals. Eur J Clin Nutr 45:121–138

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Granado F, Blázquez S, Olmedilla B (2007) Changes in carotenoid intake from fruit and vegetables in the Spanish population over the period 1964–2004. Public Health Nutr 10:1018–1023

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Harrison EH (2005) Mechanisms of digestion and absorption of dietary vitamin A. Annu Rev Nutr 25:87–103

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Ballew C, Galuska D, Gillespie C (2001) High serum retinyl esters are not associated with reduced bone mineral density in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994. J Bone Miner Res 16:2306–2312

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Penniston KL, Weng N, Binkley N, Tanumihardjo SA (2006) Serum retinyl esters are not elevated in postmenopausal women with and without osteoporosis whose preformed vitamin A intakes are high. Am J Clin Nutr 84:1350–1356

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Krasinski SD, Cohn JS, Russell RM, Schaefer EJ (1990) Postprandial plasma vitamin A metabolism in humans: a reassessment of the use of plasma retinyl esters as markers for intestinally derived chylomicrons and their remnants. Metabolism 39:357–365

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Mezquita-Raya P, Muñoz-Torres M, Luna JD, Luna V, López-Rodríguez F, Torres-Vela E et al (2001) Relation between vitamin D insufficiency, bone density, and bone metabolism in healthy postmenopausal women. Bone Miner Res 16:1408–1415

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Quesada-Gómez JM, Alonso J, Bouillon R (1996) Vitamin D insufficiency as a determinant of hip fractures. Osteoporos Int 6:42–47

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Metz AL, Walser MM, Olson WG (1985) The interaction of dietary vitamin A and vitamin D related to skeletal development in the turkey poult. J Nutr 115:929–935

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Boucher BJ, Chandra RK, Melhus H, Michaelsson K (2003) Serum retinol levels and fracture risk. N Engl J Med 348:1927–1928

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants CS 0200/2008, P06-FQM-01515, and SAF2005-05254 and teams PAI CTS-413 and PAI FQM-227 of Junta de Andalucía and Sanyres 21, Córdoba (Spain).

Conflicts of interest

JMMG, JRCA, MDLC, and JMQG have no conflict of interest. MFH is a consultant for Merck, Sanofi-Aventis, P&G, Quest Diagnostics, and Novartis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of I+D+I, Sanyres Group, Córdoba, Spain

    J. M. Mata-Granados & J. M. Quesada-Gómez

  2. Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

    J. M. Mata-Granados & M. D. Luque de Castro

  3. Mineral Metabolism Unit RETICEF, Endocrinology, Reina Sofía Hospital, Córdoba, Spain

    J. R. Cuenca-Acevedo & J. M. Quesada-Gómez

  4. Vitamin D Laboratory, Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, 02118, USA

    M. F. Holick

Authors
  1. J. M. Mata-Granados
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. R. Cuenca-Acevedo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. D. Luque de Castro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. F. Holick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. M. Quesada-Gómez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. F. Holick.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mata-Granados, J.M., Cuenca-Acevedo, J.R., Luque de Castro, M.D. et al. Vitamin D insufficiency together with high serum levels of vitamin A increases the risk for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Arch Osteoporos 8, 124 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-013-0124-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-013-0124-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation