Geng-Dong Chen1, Ying-Ying Zhu1, Yi Cao1, Jun Liu1, Wen-Qi Shi1, Zhao-Min Liu2, Yu-Ming Chen3. 1. Department of Medical Statistics & Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. 2. Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. 3. Department of Medical Statistics & Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: chenyum@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Former studies suggested an adverse effect of hypervitaminosis A on bone health, while the effects of retinol and its precursor (β-carotene) remain uncertain in populations consuming vitamin A (VA) mainly from plant sources. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association of serum, dietary retinol, and β-carotene with bone mineral density (BMD) in Chinese adults. METHODS: We recruited 2101 women and 1053 men (aged 40-75 years) in Guangzhou, China. Dietary intake was assessed through face-to-face interviews with food-frequency questionnaires at baseline and 3 years later. Serum levels of retinol and β-carotene were determined by HPLC using a baseline specimen, and the BMD for the whole body (WB), lumbar spine (LS), total hip (TH), and femur neck (FN) were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at follow-up. RESULTS: In general, greater levels of serum retinol, β-carotene, and the β-carotene-to-retinol ratio were associated with a higher BMD after adjustment for potential covariates in the total sample. BMD values in the top (vs. bottom) quartile were increased by 2.06% (TH) for retinol; 2.87% (WB), 2.51% (LS), 3.10% (FN) for β-carotene; 2.21% (WB) and 2.05% (FN) for the β-carotene-to-retinol ratio in the total sample (all p<0.05). A significant positive association with BMD was observed for dietary intake of β-carotene and total VA in retinol equivalents at the hip sites in the total sample. CONCLUSION: Higher circulating and dietary levels of VA and β-carotene and higher serum β-carotene-to-retinol ratios were positively associated with BMD in Chinese adults consuming relatively low levels of VA, mainly from plant foods.
BACKGROUND: Former studies suggested an adverse effect of hypervitaminosis A on bone health, while the effects of retinol and its precursor (β-carotene) remain uncertain in populations consuming vitamin A (VA) mainly from plant sources. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association of serum, dietary retinol, and β-carotene with bone mineral density (BMD) in Chinese adults. METHODS: We recruited 2101 women and 1053 men (aged 40-75 years) in Guangzhou, China. Dietary intake was assessed through face-to-face interviews with food-frequency questionnaires at baseline and 3 years later. Serum levels of retinol and β-carotene were determined by HPLC using a baseline specimen, and the BMD for the whole body (WB), lumbar spine (LS), total hip (TH), and femur neck (FN) were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at follow-up. RESULTS: In general, greater levels of serum retinol, β-carotene, and the β-carotene-to-retinol ratio were associated with a higher BMD after adjustment for potential covariates in the total sample. BMD values in the top (vs. bottom) quartile were increased by 2.06% (TH) for retinol; 2.87% (WB), 2.51% (LS), 3.10% (FN) for β-carotene; 2.21% (WB) and 2.05% (FN) for the β-carotene-to-retinol ratio in the total sample (all p<0.05). A significant positive association with BMD was observed for dietary intake of β-carotene and total VA in retinol equivalents at the hip sites in the total sample. CONCLUSION: Higher circulating and dietary levels of VA and β-carotene and higher serum β-carotene-to-retinol ratios were positively associated with BMD in Chinese adults consuming relatively low levels of VA, mainly from plant foods.
Authors: Chandima N D Balasuriya; Tricia L Larose; Mats P Mosti; Kari Anne I Evensen; Geir W Jacobsen; Per M Thorsby; Astrid Kamilla Stunes; Unni Syversen Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-09-26 Impact factor: 3.240