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| | | | Agency issues new advice on vitamin A to at risk groups Sep 10th 2005
The Food Standards Agency has today issued precautionary advice on the level of vitamin A in the diet for people who eat liver regularly and those at risk of osteoporosis. 
This follows a review of the dietary evidence on vitamin A undertaken by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) published today.
The FSA asked SACN to look at advice on vitamin A after experts highlighted, in May 2003, evidence that suggested that high intakes over many years may 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 to not consume more than 1.5mg of vitamin A a day
As a precaution the Agency is advising that people who eat liver or liver products, such as pâté, every week should not increase this any further. This is because liver is a particularly rich source of vitamin A, containing much higher amounts than other foods. 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 years, who are more at risk of osteoporosis, to avoid having more than 1.5mg of vitamin A a 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, including fish liver oils.
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 due to the fact that large amounts of vitamin A can harm an unborn baby.
Gill Fine, Director of Consumer Choice and Dietary Health, Food Standards Agency 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 years, 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 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.
Food Standards Agency http://www.food.gov.uk
Sep 10th 2005
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