Vitamin A In Pregnancy: Why Is It Important And What Are Its Vital Sources?

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An adequate intake of vitamin A in pregnancy can benefit maternal and fetal well-being. The nutrient plays a crucial role in fetal development and keeps the mother healthy. You can get vitamin A through various food items. Vitamin A supplements may also be considered if your doctor prescribes them.Despite the benefits of vitamin A, its excess intake may increase the risk ofcongenital malformationsⁱXStructural or functional abnormalities that develop during the fetal period..Read on to know the importance of vitamin A in pregnancy and the right amount to consume.

Why Is Vitamin A Important During Pregnancy?

Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient available abundantly in most foods and occurs in two forms (1).

• Preformed vitamin A (from animal sources):It includes retinol andretinyl estersⁱXA kind of vitamin A used to make supplements and fortified foods.directly absorbed in the body.

• Provitamin A carotenoids(from plant sources):It includesbeta-caroteneⁱXA natural dye that gives color to fruits and vegetables and gets converted into vitamin A in the human body.that needs to be converted to retinol in the body for absorption.

Vitamin A contributes to the expecting mother’s and the fetus’ health in the following ways (2).

For the mother:

• Helps in postpartum tissue repair
• Maintains normal eyesight
• Strengthens immune system
• 维护女性再保险的功能能力productive system

For the fetus:

• Assists in bone development
• Promotes fetal organ development and bone health
• Helps in the growth and formation ofepithelial tissueⁱXA thin protective layer of tissue that forms the outer covering of the body and also lines the glands and organs.

How Much Vitamin A Is Required During Pregnancy?

According to the National Institute of Health, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin A for pregnant women between the ages of 19 and 50 years is 770 micrograms (3).RAE is the standard measurement of vitamin A and stands for retinol activity equivalents (RAE). It indicates the potency of the vitamin A source (retinol or provitamin A).

One microgram (mcg) of RAE is equivalent to any one of the following values.

• 1 mcg retinol
• 2 mcg beta-carotene from supplementation
• 12 mcg beta-carotene from diet
• 24mcg alpha-carotene
• 24mcgbeta-cryptoxanthinⁱXA naturally occurring fruit pigment that is also present in human blood and tissues.

Sometimes, vitamin A is also measured in international units (IU). The conversions of IU to RAE are as follows.

• 1 IU retinol = 0.3 mcg RAE
• 1 IU supplemental beta-carotene = 0.3 mcg RAE
• 1 IU dietary beta-carotene = 0.05 mcg RAE
• 1 IU dietary alpha-carotene or beta-cryptoxanthin = 0.025 mcg RAE

What Are The Good Sources Of Vitamin A?

The following foods are rich sources of vitamin A.

Food	Serving	Micrograms (mcg) RAE per serving	Percentage daily value
Beef liver, pan fried	3 ounces	6,582	731
Sweet potato, baked in skin	1 whole	1,403	156
自旋ach, frozen, boiled	½ cup	573	64
Pumpkin pie, commercially prepared	1 piece	488	54
Carrots, raw	½ cup	459	51
Ice cream, French vanilla, soft serve	1 cup	278	31
Cheese, ricotta, part skim	1 cup	263	29
Herring, Atlantic, pickled	3 ounces	219	24
Milk, fat free or skim, fortified with vitamin A	1 cup	149	17
Cantaloupe, raw	½ cup	135	15
Peppers, sweet, red, raw	½ cup	117	13
Mangos, raw	1 whole	112	12
Breakfast cereals, fortified with 10% of the DV for vitamin A	1 serving	90	10
Egg, hard boiled	1大	75	8
Black-eyed peas (cowpeas), boiled	1 cup	66	7
Apricots, dried, sulfured	10 halves	63	7
Broccoli, boiled	½ cup	60	7
Salmon, sockeye, cooked	3 ounces	59	7
Tomato juice, canned	¾ cup	42	5
Yogurt, plain, low fat	1 cup	32	4
Tuna, light, canned in oil, drained solids	3 ounces	20.	2
Baked beans, canned, plain or vegetarian	1 cup	13	1
Summer squash, all varieties, boiled	½ cup	10	1
Chicken, breast meat and skin, roasted	½ breast	5	1
Pistachio nuts, dry roasted	1 ounce	4	0

Source:Vitamin A, National Institute of Health.

A balanced diet should supply the required vitamin Amanbet安卓版for optimal nutrition. However, if you have any micronutrient deficiencies, your physician may recommend vitamin supplements. Do not take supplements unless prescribed by a healthcare provider since they may have side effects.

Is Too Much Vitamin A Bad During Pregnancy?

An intake of more than 4500mcg RAE (15,000 IU) of dietary vitamin A or 3000mcg RAE (10,000 IU) of supplemental vitamin A can lead to toxicity, also termed hypervitaminosis. A few studies state that vitamin A toxicity during the early stages of pregnancy could lead to congenital malformations (2) (4).Hence, consume foods rich in vitamin A as part of a balanced diet and avoid supplementation during pregnancy unless prescribed by your doctor.

The symptoms of vitamin A toxicity include the following.

• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of balance
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Vertigo
• Blurred vision
• Weight loss

Apart from supplements, regular liver intake may also cause vitamin A toxicity since it is rich in this nutrient.Speak to your doctor or dietician regarding the right food choices to safely get adequate vitamin A intake.

How To Safely Consume Vitamin A During Pregnancy?

The following tips could help you avoid overdosing on vitamin A.

• Avoid taking vitamin A supplements if you consume liver and other food preparations made with liver frequently.
• Speak to your doctor before taking any prenatal vitamin supplements to prevent overdosing.
• Generally, multivitamins proposed to pregnant women contain a number of vitamin A units.
• Include vitamin A-rich fortified foods as part of a balanced diet and avoid overeating a specific food item. You may speak to a dietician who can design a diet plan for adequate vitamin A intake based on your age andpregnancy trimester.

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