Vitamin A intake and plasma retinol levels in healthy elderly men and women

We examined intakes of vitamin A (diet plus supplement) and plasma retinol levels in a select group of elderly men (n = 90) and women (n = 110) on three separate occasions over a 4-y period. Median dietary levels remained at ~ 1400 retinol equivalents (RE) in men and 1250 RE in women. There were no time trends or gender differences noted in plasma retinol concentrations. Approximately 44% of the elderly men and women consumed an average of 2000 RE of a vitamin A supplement daily. Those taking supplement had a greater mean plasma retinol concentration than those not taking a supplement. This effect was greater in men than in women. A review of previous studies revealed that plasma retinol increases from a mean of ~ 35 μg/dL (1.22 μmol/L) at preschool age to a plateau of ~ 60 μg/dL (2.09 μmol/L) by age 40 y in men and 60 y in women.