Estimated dietary intakes of vitamin A5

Abstract A new vitamin concept, termed vitamin A5, was recently identified. Furthermore, dietary recommendations in the range of 1,1 (0,5 – 1,8) mg vitamin A5 / day were suggested by an international expert consortium. The ensuing question arises as to the current daily dietary intake amounts in the Western civilization. Addressing this answer included calculating the intake based on known amounts of vitamin A5 in frequently consumed food items of the human diet high in this vitamin as well as the known daily dietary intake amounts of those selected food components in Westernized countries. Regarding food items, amounts of vitamin A5 in the form of provitamin A5 (i.e. 9- cis -beta-carotene (9CBC)), the predominant form in the diet, were found to range from 0,1 to 39 µg 9CBC / g for individual fruits and vegetables, with highest concentrations in leafy vegetables. The average intake amounts of vitamin A5 in adults of the general population following a Western lifestyle in Europe, averaged 0,9 with a range of 0,5 (for Austria) – 1,3 (for Italy) mg 9CBC / day. Furthermore, based on our calculations, large parts, i.e. ∼ 2/3rd of the population are low, even too low (<1.1 mg/day), in daily vitamin A5 intake. In addition to the importance of nudging the population towards a regrettably non-well accepted higher intake of fruits and vegetables, an additional fortification and supplementation of vitamin A5 could be considered, similar as to other micronutrients that are low a Westernized diet.