On-line Vitamin Retailer Predicts Increased Demand for Vitamin A.

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Despite recent publicity questioning the safety and effectiveness of some vitamins, UK retailer, Boots Herbal Stores, predicts and increased demand from educated consumers when news of the benefits of Vitamin A becomes more readily available.

According to researchers at Newcastle University, almost half of UK women may be lacking an important source of vitamin A due to a previously undiscovered genetic variation.

The research, published in the FASEB Journal, has shown that almost 50 per cent of women have a genetic variation which reduces their ability to produce sufficient amounts of vitamin A from beta-carotene.

The research shows that for many women, beta-carotene is not an effective substitute for vitamin A and that many women are simply not getting enough of this vital nutrient because their bodies are not able to convert the beta-carotene. The research also showed that all volunteers consumed only about a third of their recommended intake from ‘preformed’ vitamin A – the form found in products such as eggs and milk – indicating that those volunteers carrying the genetic variation were not eating enough vitamin A-rich foods to reach the optimum level their body required to function.

According to the lead researcher:

“Worryingly, younger women are at particular risk."

“The older generations tend to eat more eggs, milk and liver which are naturally rich in vitamin A whereas the health-conscious youngsters on low-fat diets are relying heavily on the beta-carotene form of the nutrient.”

"Vitamin A is incredibly important – particularly at this time of year when we are all trying to fight off the winter colds and flu."

Solgar Vitamin A is available now from www.solgar.co.uk