Too Much Vitamin A During Pregnancy: How Much Vitamin A Is Safe in Pregnancy? Pregnant women need around 2,500 IU. Breastfeeding women need around 4,300 IU. The safety limit in pregnancy differs between 8,000 IU and 10,000 IU.
How much vitamin A is safe during pregnancy?
So it's best to speak to your naturopath first. Too Much Vitamin A During Pregnancy: How Much Vitamin A Is Safe in Pregnancy? Pregnant women need around 2,500 IU. Breastfeeding women need around 4,300 IU. The safety limit in pregnancy differs between 8,000 IU and 10,000 IU.
How much vitamin D do you need when pregnant?
Pregnant women need around 2,500 IU. Breastfeeding women need around 4,300 IU. The safety limit in pregnancy differs between 8,000 IU and 10,000 IU. Some sources, such as one of the world's foremost authorities on fetal nutrition - Prof. Merlyn Werbach of the University of California says the upper limit is 40,000 IU[3].
Is too much vitamin A bad for my Baby?
Yes, too much of it, especially from supplements, can be dangerous. But you still need it, your baby still needs it, and there’s a really good chance you’re not getting enough of it. While too much vitamin A can have a negative health impact, so can having too little.
How many IU of vitamin A is too high?
In supplements, vitamin A is usually reported in IU (international units) on its labels. If all the vitamin A is from beta carotene, up to 15,000 IU is allowed, though, not advised. You probably won’t find it that high anyway. If your vitamin contains retinyl palmitate or retinyl acetate, there shouldn’t be more than 2,500 IU from these two.
When was vitamin A discovered?
Vitamin A was discovered 106 years ago [ 1] and has been recognized as a public health priority by the World Health Organization (WHO) for more than six decades [ 2 ]. Nevertheless, many aspects of vitamin A deficiency (VAD), such as its epidemiology, classification, and even its metabolism and pathophysiology, are still not fully understood. The aim of this review article, which focuses on the pregnant woman and her fetus as representing the most vulnerable group insofar as this problem is concerned [ 3, 4, 5 ], is to contribute towards clarifying these issues and identifying possible new alternatives regarding practical actions, including future research requirements.
Why is VAD more common in the last quarter of pregnancy?
VAD is more frequent in the last quarter of pregnancy because of the physiological increase in maternal blood volume and accelerated fetal development in the final phase of pregnancy [ 41, 42 ]. Pregnant women may be more prone to developing VAD during periods in which there is a shortage of foods rich in vitamin A or in the presence of infections, diabetes mellitus, or gestational diabetes [ 43, 44, 45 ].
What is VAD in pregnancy?
The WHO defines VAD in pregnancy as serum retinol levels of <0.70 µmol/L, with the condition being considered a serious public health issue when the prevalence occurs in 20% or more of pregnant women; moderate when affecting between 10% and 20%; and mild when between 2% and 10% [ 4, 46, 47] ( Table 1 ). It is noteworthy that serum retinol levels should ideally be analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) [ 48 ].
What is the role of vitamin A in the body?
Vitamin A plays an important role in ocular function, as it is involved in cell differentiation, in the maintenance of eye integrity, and in the prevention of xerophthalmia. Its deficiency is the main cause of preventable blindness worldwide [ 4 ]. Vitamin A is also associated with bone development, has a protective effect on the skin and mucosa, plays a vital role in the functional capacity of reproductive organs, participates in strengthening the immune system, is related to the development and maintenance of epithelial tissue, and contributes to the development of normal teeth and hair [ 6, 7, 8 ]. In addition to its important role in various body tissues [ 6 ], vitamin A is essential to the normal development of the embryo [ 9 ].
Why is pregnancy considered a nutritionally important period?
Pregnancy represents a nutritionally crucial period, either because of previous deficiencies being reduced or aggravated by the gestational process, or because excesses and inadequacies of nutrients in the diet may produce specific nutritional disorders [ 40 ]. Thus, nutrients including vitamin A can interfere with the occurrence or worsening of previous or coexisting diseases during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the postpartum.
Is vitamin A good for pregnant women?
Vitamin A is a crucial micronutrient for pregnant women and their fetuses. In addition to being essential for morphological and functional development and for ocular integrity, vitamin A exerts systemic effects on several fetal organs and on the fetal skeleton. Vitamin A requirements during pregnancy are therefore greater. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) remains the leading cause of preventable blindness in the world. VAD in pregnant women is a public health issue in most developing countries. In contrast, in some developed countries, excessive vitamin A intake during pregnancy can be a concern since, when in excess, this micronutrient may exert teratogenic effects in the first 60 days following conception. Routine prenatal vitamin A supplementation for the prevention of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality is not recommended; however, in regions where VAD is a public health issue, vitamin A supplementation is recommended to prevent night blindness. Given the importance of this topic and the lack of a complete, up-to-date review on vitamin A and pregnancy, an extensive review of the literature was conducted to identify conflicting or incomplete data on the topic as well as any gaps in existing data.
Is it safe to take vitamin A during pregnancy?
According to the 2013 WHO guideline [ 10 ], routine supplementation of vitamin A in the prenatal period to prevent maternal or perinatal morbidity and mortality is not recommended. However, in places where VAD is a public health issue, vitamin A supplementation in pregnant women is recommended to prevent night blindness [ 10 ].
How much vitamin A do pregnant women need?
One microgram (mcg) of retinol (preformed vitamin A) is equal to 1 mcg RAE, but it takes 12 mcg of beta-carotene or 24 mcg of alpha-carotene to equal 1 mcg RAE.
Why is vitamin A important during pregnancy?
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that's stored in the liver. Vitamin A is important for your baby's embryonic growth, including the development of the heart , lungs , kidneys, eyes, and bones as well as the circulatory, respiratory, and central nervous systems. Vitamin A is particularly essential ...
What is the unit of measurement for vitamin A?
An older standard of measurement that is still used (especially on Supplement Facts labels) is the International Unit, or IU. IUs aren't easily converted to RAE because the conversion depends on the type of vitamin A. For example, 900 mcg RAE could be anywhere from 3,000 to 36,100 IU of vitamin A.
How much retinol is in a microgram?
The standard of measurement for vitamin A is RAE (retinol activity equivalents), which is based on the potency and source of vitamin A. One microgram (mcg) of retinol (preformed vitamin A) is equal to 1 mcg RAE, but it takes 12 mcg of beta-carotene or 24 mcg of alpha-carotene to equal 1 mcg RAE.
What are the two forms of vitamin A?
There are two forms of vitamin A: preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids. Preformed vitamin A (also called retinol) is used directly by the body and is found in animal products like eggs, milk, and liver.
What is the best source of vitamin A?
Fruits and vegetables (particularly orange and yellow ones and leafy greens), rich in beta-carotene, are the best sources of provitamin A. You're also likely to get a fair amount of preformed vitamin A from fortified milk and cereals.
Why is vitamin A important for women?
Vitamin A is particularly essential for women who are about to give birth because it helps with postpartum tissue repair. It also helps maintain normal vision, fights infections, supports your immune system, and helps with fat metabolism. There are two forms of vitamin A: preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids.
How many pregnant women don't get enough vitamin A?
26% of pregnant women don’t get enough vitamin A from their daily diet, and non-pregnant women aren’t doing any better. In fact, 48% of non-pregnant women aren’t meeting their needs.
How many IU of vitamin A is in a vitamin?
In supplements, vitamin A is usually reported in IU (international units) on its labels. If all the vitamin A is from beta carotene, up to 15,000 IU is allowed, though, not advised. You probably won’t find it that high anyway. If your vitamin contains retinyl palmitate or retinyl acetate, there shouldn’t be more than 2,500 IU from these two.
Why is vitamin A important for growth?
For cells to grow and multiply, your body and your baby require the support of vitamin A. In addition to supporting growth, this vitamin serves as an antioxidant. As an antioxidant it helps protect your cells from damaging factors such as pollution, UV rays, and emotional stress. If vitamin A is so important, why are women constantly warned about ...
How to get more vitamin D?
Here are some ways to squeeze more of this vitamin into your day: 1 Add ground liver to your ground meat used for hamburgers, tacos, or spaghetti sauce. 2 Opt for mashed sweet potatoes in place of mashed white potatoes as a side dish for dinner. 3 Grab a bowl of pumpkin soup for lunch. 4 Add butternut squash to your favorite pasta sauce recipe. 5 Sprinkle shredded carrots on a salad, on scrambled eggs, or on a sandwich. 6 Choose spinach instead of iceberg lettuce in salads or on sandwiches. 7 Use a collard green leaf in place of a tortilla or wrap when making wraps for lunch. 8 Rip up kale leaves and add them to an omelet. 9 Make your own tasty, healthy, and easy trail mix by combining dried apricots, coconut flakes, and dark chocolate. 10 Blend mustard greens into your favorite smoothie recipe.
Can you get too much vitamin A?
It’s highly unlikely for most people following the standard American diet to get too much vitamin A. It’s also important to realize that most research about vitamin A toxicity isn’t about vitamin A from food sources. Most toxicity reports come from supplemental vitamin A, especially from preformed (retinol and retinyl) forms.
Can too much vitamin A cause night blindness?
While too much vitamin A can have a negative health impact, so can having too little. Not getting enough vitamin A can weaken your immune system, causing hyperkeratosis (which you may know as chicken skin), and lead to night blindness.
Is vitamin A bad for pregnancy?
Vitamin A gets a bad rap during pregnancy because toxic levels may lead to birth defects. Yes, too much of it, especially from supplements, can be dangerous . But you still need it, your baby still needs it, and there’s a really good chance you’re not getting enough of it.
