A review of 27 studies of the possible association between excessive vitamin A intake, decreased bone mineral density and increased risk of hip fracture concluded that the association was proven - at least in postmenopausal women taking above 1.5 milligrams/day. The researchers from the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at Saskatchewan University (Canada) suggested that this might explain the higher incidence of osteoporosis in Sweden and Norway, a country where people have relatively high intakes of calcium but where milk fortified with vitamin A is popular.

Ed.- (i) This is yet another reason to doubt the conventional wisdom that drinking milk protects against osteporosis. Nutritionally-minded physicians recommend instead a diet rich in vegetables, seeds, proteins and grains rich in phytoestrogens in combination with exercise to encourage bone density.

(ii) Having noted a close correlation between arthritis andlevels of boron in the soil, Dr. Rex Newnham developed an anti-arthritis, anti-rheumatoid arthritis, anti-osteoporosis, anti-fibromyalgia supplement called Osteo-trace, which contains safe levels of boron and seventeen compounds which deliver vitamins and trace minerals essential to healthy bones.

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