The Claim

A multinutrient supplement containing 743 µg of vitamin A (as retinol) administered for 4 months has no significant effect on serum retinol, retinol-binding protein, or transthyretin levels in healthy vegans.

Source: Assessment of vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, vitamin K, folate, and choline status following 4 months of multinutrient supplementation in healthy vegans: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
82score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Quantitative
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Taking a multinutrient supplement with 743 micrograms of vitamin A as retinol for four months does not change blood levels of retinol, retinol-binding protein, or transthyretin in healthy vegans.

See the scientific wording

A multinutrient supplement containing 743 µg of vitamin A (as retinol) for 4 months does not significantly improve serum retinol, retinol-binding protein, or transthyretin levels in healthy vegans, despite baseline levels of retinol-binding protein consistently falling below reference ranges, suggesting the dose may be insufficient or that conversion efficiency limits efficacy.

Why this might work

The body takes in vitamin A from the supplement, but the liver does not release enough of it into the blood because the amount given is too low to overcome the body’s normal retention of stored vitamin A. Even though the protein that carries vitamin A in the blood is already low, the body does not make more of it or release more vitamin A to raise levels.

Supported mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Assessment of vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, vitamin K, folate, and choline status following 4 months of multinutrient supplementation in healthy vegans: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

    Scientists gave vegans a daily vitamin pill with 743 micrograms of vitamin A for four months and found their blood markers for vitamin A didn’t improve, even though many started with low levels. This means the pill didn’t work as expected.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

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