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Clinical nutrition

Distribution and determinants of retinol in Norwegian adolescents, and its relation to bone mineral density: the Tromsø Study: Fit Futures

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 72, pages 1373–1384 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

Sufficient vitamin A levels are important for many functions—and both too little and too much may have detrimental health effects. The aim of the study was to describe the distribution of retinol levels in Norwegian adolescents, the relation between lifestyle factors and retinol levels, and the relation between retinol levels and bone mineral density (BMD).

Subjects/methods

Serum retinol was measured in 414 girls and 474 boys aged 15–19 years, participating in the Tromsø Study: Fit Futures. Questionnaires regarding health and lifestyle factors were filled in, and physical examinations, body composition, and bone mineral density measurements (DEXA) performed. Multiple regression analyses were used to discover associations between retinol and exposure variables.

Results

Retinol levels ranged from 0.26 to 6.46 μmol/L with a median (2.5–97.5 percentile) of 2.35 (1.01–4.67) μmol/L. There was no gender difference. In the multivariate models, fat mass, albumin level, physical activity, and lunch habits were positively associated with retinol levels in boys. In girls, fat mass and height were negatively associated with retinol levels, and lean mass, vitamin D, calcium, total cholesterol, and the use of contraceptives were positively associated with retinol levels (p < 0.05). The models explained 18.3% and 14.6% of the variation (R2) in girls and boys, respectively. Retinol levels were not independently associated with BMD.

Conclusion

Retinol levels in Norwegian adolescents are higher than reported elsewhere, and are to a low degree explained by lifestyle and physical measurements. No independent association with BMD was found.

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Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to the study participants, the staff at the Centre for Clinical Research and Education and the Fit Futures administration.

Funding:

The present study was supported by the The Northern Norway Regional Health Authority and UiT—The Arctic University of Norway.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tromsø Endocrine Research Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway

    M. S. W. Teigmo & G. Grimnes

  2. Vitas AS, Oslo, Norway

    T. E. Gundersen

  3. Department of Health and Care Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway

    N. Emaus

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Correspondence to M. S. W. Teigmo.

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Teigmo, M.S.W., Gundersen, T.E., Emaus, N. et al. Distribution and determinants of retinol in Norwegian adolescents, and its relation to bone mineral density: the Tromsø Study: Fit Futures. Eur J Clin Nutr 72, 1373–1384 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0193-z

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