Vitamin A antagonizes calcium response to vitamin D in man.
For unknown reasons, the highest incidence of osteoporosis is found in northern Europe. In these populations, the sunlight exposure is limited and the vitamin A intake is high. The interaction between vitamin A and D has been the subject of several in vitro and animal studies. We have studied the acute effects of vitamin A and D on calcium homeostasis in 9 healthy human subjects. We compared the effect of (i) 15 mg of retinyl palmitate, (ii) 2 microg of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], (iii) 15 mg of retinyl palmitate plus 2 microg of 1,25(OH)2D3, and (iv) placebo in a double-blind crossover study. The subjects took vitamin preparations at 10:00 p.m. and the following day blood samples were collected five times from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Serum levels of 1,25(OH)2D3 and retinyl esters increased (1.7-fold and 8.3-fold, respectively; p < 0.01). As expected, serum calcium (S-calcium) increased (2.3%; p < 0.01) and S-parathyroid hormone (PTH) decreased (-32%; p < 0.05) after 1,25(OH)2D3 intake. In contrast, retinyl palmitate intake resulted in a significant decrease in S-calcium when taken alone (-1.0%; p < 0.05) and diminished the calcium response to 1,25(OH)2D3 after the combined intake (1.4%; p < 0.01). S-PTH was unaffected by retinyl palmitate. No significant changes in serum levels of the degradation product of C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CrossLaps), or U-calcium/creatinine levels were found. In conclusion, an intake of vitamin A corresponding to about one serving of liver antagonizes the rapid intestinal calcium response to physiological levels of vitamin D in man.
Johansson
S
S
Department of Medical Sciences, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Melhus
H
H
D000328:Adult; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004224:Diterpenes; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004224:Diterpenes; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate; D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium