Getting the right amount of vitamin A is especially important during pregnancy, since vitamin A is used by the body for cell growth and differentiation. Vitamin A also plays a role in immune system function, growth, vision, reproduction and tissue maintenance. Consuming too little or too much vitamin A can affect the health of your unborn child.
Recommended Dosage
The recommended dietary allowance for pregnant women 18 and under is 2,500 IU per day, and for pregnant women 19 and older, 2,565 IU per day. If you take vitamin A supplements, they should contain 5,000 IU or less per day to avoid the risk of vitamin A toxicity.
Risk of High Levels
Intakes of more than 10,000 IU per day of vitamin A during pregnancy may increase the risk for birth defects, including cleft palate, hydrocephaly, microcephaly, mental retardation, heart defects, neural tube defects and ear and eye abnormalities, according to the National Toxicology Program. High doses of vitamin A can also harm your liver, increase your risk for osteoporosis and cause side effects, including nausea, headache, vomiting, blurred vision and uncoordinated muscles.
Risk of Low Levels
Not getting enough vitamin A during pregnancy can also harm you and your baby. Vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy can lead to a higher likelihood of HIV transmission from mother to baby. Your baby may also be born with low vitamin A status, which increases his risk for getting diarrhea, measles and respiratory infections. Vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness and can limit your ability to fight infections. If not treated, it can lead to blindness.
Considerations
Do not take retinoids for skin problems while pregnant, as these increase your vitamin A levels. Try to meet your vitamin A requirements through foods containing beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. Your body does not convert beta-carotene to vitamin A if your vitamin A stores are sufficient, so this limits your risk for vitamin A toxicity.
References
- National Toxicology Program; Vitamin A; Nov. 12, 2010
- March of Dimes; Vitamins and Minerals During Pregnancy; March 2009
- MedlinePlus; Vitamin A; Nov. 19, 2010
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; Vitamin A in Pregnancy: Requirements and Safety Limits; Véronique Azaïs-Braesco, et al.; May 2000
- Office of Dietary Supplements; Vitamin A and Carotenoids
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