The bone loss caused by osteoporosis often leads to other health complications, including bone fractures and postural changes. Many lifestyle changes can influence your risk for osteoporosis, as well as how quickly the disease progresses. Among these is a healthy diet, including calcium, vitamin D and other important nutrients like beta-carotene. Before taking beta-carotene supplements, talk to your doctor.
Bone Density Loss
Osteoporosis is a bone loss disease that primarily affects elderly women, though it can strike anyone. Women have a greater risk for developing osteoporosis, especially after menopause, according to MayoClinic.com. The osteoporosis disease process decreases bone density, making the bones more brittle and vulnerable to fractures. While not completely avoidable, many nutrients can influence your osteoporosis risk. In particular, your vitamin C and calcium intake are important throughout your life. Vitamin A, a by-product of beta-carotene, also plays a role in bone health.
Beta-Carotene
Beta-carotene is a nutrient that gives many vegetables and fruits their rich colors. Fruits and vegetables that are orange, yellow and red are often high in beta-carotene, including apricots, pumpkin and carrots. Some leafy greens are also high in beta-carotene, such as kale. When you eat foods that contain beta-carotene, your body converts some of the nutrient into vitamin A. In addition to being a provitamin, or precursor, to vitamin A, beta-carotene also has antioxidant properties, which are beneficial to your health. Antioxidants can counter the effects of free radicals, which contribute to many chronic health impairments. According to the NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases Natural Resource Center, the vitamin A that comes from beta-carotene also directly contributes to healthy bone development. However, when taken in excess it may have the opposite effect.
Vitamin A and Bone Loss
While vitamin A is an essential nutrient, too much vitamin A may increase your risk for bone loss through osteoporosis. According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, vitamin A supplements in excess of the daily recommended dose seem to weaken the bones, making some people more vulnerable to associated fractures. While the exact cause is not apparent, researchers think vitamin A may trigger the action of cells that break down bone in the body, or simply interfere with the action of the bone-healthy vitamin D. The retinol that comes from vitamin A may also be the culprit. While vitamin A supplements may be a risk factor for some people, the vitamin A that comes from beta-carotene appears to be safe. According to the NIH, there is currently no evidence that it poses the same risks.
Supplement Guidelines
According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, there is no established dietary requirement for beta-carotene and other carotenoids. Most people get enough by simply including a variety of fruits and vegetables in their diets. Beta-carotene supplements do not seem to directly impact osteoporosis symptoms. While beta-carotene's vitamin A by-product is necessary for bone health, there is no evidence that extra beta-carotene will slow bone loss. MayoClinic.com reports it is never too late to treat osteoporosis, however, so talk to your doctor if you think you need more beta-carotene in your diet.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Osteoporosis; November 2010
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin A and Carotenoids
- NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases Natural Resource Center: Vitamin A and Bone Health; January 2011
- Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center; June 2009
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