Is it safe to take vitamin A while pregnant?

During pregnancy, it’s important not to get too much preformed vitamin A, which can cause birth defects and liver toxicity in high doses. (However, it’s safe and beneficial to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables high in carotenoids.)

How much vitamin A is safe during pregnancy?

Because of the teratogenic effects secondary to excessive vitamin A intake, the WHO recommends as safe during pregnancy a maximum dose of up to 10,000 IU daily or 25,000 IU weekly after the first 60 days of gestation [10,12,38].

Why is vitamin A supplementation not recommended during pregnancy?

Taking vitamin A supplements during pregnancy does not help to prevent other problems that can occur such as stillbirth, preterm birth, low birthweight of babies or newborn babies with anaemia. However, the risk of maternal anaemia, maternal infection and maternal night blindness is reduced.

Is 5000 IU of vitamin A too much during pregnancy?

The National Research Council’s recommended dietary allowance for vitamin A during pregnancy is 1,000 retinol equivalents (RE)/day, which is equivalent to 3,300 IU as retinol or 5,000 IU of vitamin A obtained from the typical American diet as a combination of retinol and carotenoids, e.g., beta-carotene.

What vitamins are bad for pregnancy?

For example, high doses of vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D or vitamin E can be dangerous. It’s best not to take these vitamins as supplements in pregnancy. It’s also best to avoid foods that may be very high in vitamin A, including liver and liver products such as pâté.

Does vitamin A cause birth defects?

Women who consume excessive amounts of vitamin A during the early months of pregnancy can cause serious birth defects in their unborn children, a large new study has shown.

When should a pregnant woman start taking vitamin A?

While there is some indication that low doses of vitamin A supplements given to pregnant women on a daily or weekly basis, starting in the second or third trimester, can reduce the severity of decline in maternal serum retinol levels during late pregnancy and the symptoms of night blindness, current evidence indicates …

Is 8000 IU of vitamin A safe during pregnancy?

Existing WHO guidance suggests a dose of up to 10 000 IU vitamin A per day, or a weekly dose of up to 25 000 IU (1). A single dose of a vitamin A supplement greater than 25 000 IU is not recommended as its safety is uncertain.

Which multivitamin is best for pregnancy?

Healthline Parenthood’s picks of the best prenatal vitamins

• Ritual Essential Prenatal.
• Care/of Baby Love Prenatal Multivitamin.
• Persona Prenatal Supplements.
• MegaFood Baby & Me 2 Prenatal Multi.
• Garden of Life Vitamin Code RAW Prenatals.
• Best Nest Wellness Mama Bird Prenatal Multi+ for a Healthy Pregnancy.

What vitamins cause teratogenicity?

Conclusions: High dietary intake of preformed vitamin A appears to be teratogenic. Among the babies born to women who took more than 10,000 IU of preformed vitamin A per day in the form of supplements, we estimate that about 1 infant in 57 had a malformation attributable to the supplement.

Can you take preformed vitamin A during pregnancy?

There are two forms of vitamin A: preformed vitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids. You can usually get the vitamin A you need from food sources and in your prenatal vitamin, so it’s rare to need a supplement. High doses of preformed vitamin A can cause birth defects. How much vitamin A do pregnant women need?

Which is the best DHA supplement for pregnancy?

Sign up for a subscription, and Ritual will deliver your vitamins right to your front door. The Zahler Prenatal + DHA is one of Godfrey’s top picks. It has 300 mg of DHA, so it is a nice supplement to add if you are already getting dietary omega-3.

When to start taking prenatal DHA vitamins?

According to Ross, the best prenatal vitamins contain at least 200 mg of DHA, and ideally, you want to start taking prenatal vitamins with DHA at least 3 months before getting pregnant, so you get the health benefits as soon as your pregnancy test turns positive.

What’s the upper limit for prenatal vitamins?

For women ages 14 to 18, the upper intake limit is 2,800 mcg RAE. This is one reason why it’s important not to double up on your prenatal vitamins or take any supplements without talking to your healthcare provider.