Agency issues new advice on vitamin A

Wednesday 7 September 2005

The Agency has today (7 September) issued advice on vitamin A for people who eat liver regularly and those at risk of osteoporosis.

This follows a review of the evidence on vitamin A, undertaken by the independent Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), and also published today.

The FSA asked SACN to look at the advice on vitamin A after the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals highlighted evidence, in May 2003, that suggested high intakes of this vitamin over many years might increase the risk of osteoporosis in later life.

SACN concluded that:

• there was insufficient evidence of a link between bone health and vitamin A intakes to justify a change in dietary advice to all consumers
• as a precaution, people who eat liver regularly, that is more than once a week, should not increase this amount and should avoid taking vitamin A supplements
• it may also be advisable for people at risk of osteoporosis not to consume more than 1.5 milligrams (mg) of vitamin A per day

As a precaution, the Agency is advising people who eat liver or liver products, such as pt, every week, not to increase this. This is because liver is a particularly rich source of vitamin A.

For people who only eat liver occasionally, eating more than one portion a week would not be cause for concern, because the risk relates to regular consumption over many years.

The Agency is also advising women who have been through the menopause and men over 65, who are more at risk of osteoporosis, to avoid having more than 1.5mg of vitamin A per day. This means eating liver or liver products no more than once a week.

People at risk of osteoporosis should also avoid taking supplements containing vitamin A or fish liver oils, which contain high levels of vitamin A.

Advice for women who are pregnant or thinking of having a baby remains unchanged - they should avoid taking supplements containing vitamin A and avoid eating liver or liver products because large amounts of vitamin A can harm an unborn baby.

Gill Fine, the Agency's Director of Consumer Choice and Dietary Health, said: 'An independent scientific review of the evidence suggests that most people need not worry about the levels of vitamin A in their diet.

'Due to concerns about a possible link between high intakes of vitamin A and osteoporosis, women who have been through the menopause and men over 65, who are at highest risk, should eat liver no more than once a week.

'In addition, as a precaution, people who eat liver every week should not increase this any further. Both these groups should also avoid taking supplements containing vitamin A.'

A full copy of the SACN report 'Review of Dietary Advice on Vitamin A' can be found on the SACN website at the link below.