Vitamin A Supplementation Increases the Risk of Osteoporosis and Fractures
By Doug Bremner MD

Anti-oxidant vitamins are supposed to be good for your health, preventing heart disease and cancer. However Vivekananthan et al wrote in 2003 that, "the use of vitamin supplements containing beta carotenes and Vitamin A, beta carotene's biologically active metabolite, should be actively discouraged because this family of agents is associated with a small but significant excess of all cause mortality and cardiovascular death. We recommend that clinical trials of beta carotene should be discontinued because of its risks...we do not support the continued use of Vitamin E treatment and discourage the inclusion of vitamin E in future primary and secondary prevention trials..."

It is important to remember that the beneficial effects of vitamins are related to the nutritional content of the foods they are found in. The nutritional value and benefits of vitamins in foods is not transferred when vitamins are put into pill form. For example, there are multiple forms of Vitamin C in an orange; vitamins have only one form of Vitamin C. We have no guarantee that the form of Vitamin C in the pill is the helpful form we find in an orange. I understand that for those of you who may be avid vitamin-takers, this information a very hard pill to swallow.

You can get every vitamin you need by eating a variety of whole fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, and lean protein.

If you take more than you need in pill form, you may be causing yourself harm. The Danes were puzzled by the fact that they had an increase in osteoporosis in their women. They analyzed a number of factors, and found that excessive intake of vitamins, whether through fortified foods or other sources, was associated with an increased risk for osteoporosis in their county. They found a link with excessive intake of vitamins through American fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals. It seems the American predilection with fortifying everything with vitamins had gone haywire. As a result, they have banned Kellogg's vitamin fortified cereal. A spokesperson for that country on December 8, 2004 was quoted by nutraingredients.com as saying that "the Danish population already has a high intake of calcium, iron, B6 and folic acid...the knowledge on toxicity of vitamins and minerals is very limited and practically nonexistent for children... [vitamin deficiencies exist] only in small groups like immigrants who aren't getting enough vitamin D or pregnant women who need folic acid. We need to take care of all of the groups in our population." Since that time the European Union has placed a limit on the amount of vitamins and minerals that can be added to food.

And it isn't only in Europe. A study of 72,337 nurses followed from 1980 to 1998 showed that women in the top 20% of Vitamin A intake (through diet and vitamin supplements such as multivitamins) had a 48% increase in hip fracture compared to women in the bottom 20% of Vitamin A intake.

'Before You Take That Pill : Why the Drug Industry May be Bad for Your Health: Risks and Side Effects You Won't Find on the Label of Commonly Prescribed Drugs, Vitamins and Supplements,' by researcher and physician J. Douglas Bremner, MD.