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Vitamin
A is an essential nutrient with important roles in reproduction, the immune
system, and vision. These roles are particularly critical during pregnancy,
infancy, and early childhood. However, it is important to insure that pregnant
women don't get too much or too little vitamin A in their diet because both can
result in birth deformities.
The actual vitamin A requirements for pregnant women are not precisely known.
In fact, the United States National health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
(NHANES) intentially excluded pregnant women when it came to evaluating their
vitamin A status. Most of the information has been extrapolated from animal
studies, studies of nonpregnant adult women, or reports of women who experience
night blindness while on diets of specified vitamin
A content. What is known is that most of the increased need for vitamin A
occurs in the last three months of pregnancy. This is critical to provide the
baby with vitamin A reserves and for sustaining adequate breast-milk
concentrations. Breast milk is the only source of vitamin A for the exclusively
breast-fed infant.
It is suspected that maternal needs can be met when women consume the current
recommended daily allowance (RDA) of about 2700 IU vitamin
A daily. When combined with dietary beta-carotene, this is often expressed
in retinol equivalents (RE) as 800 mcg RE per day. The average intake of vitamin
A by pregnant women in the United States is about 1,000 mcg RE per day so
routine supplementation is probably not necessary. The situation is much more
critical in non-industrialized countries but, unfortunately, may also be a
problem in impoverished areas of the United States and Canada as well. During
lactation, vitamin
A requirements are often increased to 1300 mcg RE (4,330 IU)daily during the
first 6 months and 1200 mcg RE (4,000 IU) daily for the second six months. This
should entirely meet the demands for nursing and can be accomplished by eating
vitamin A-rich foods. Physicians may recommend supplementation if the diet does
not provide these amounts. A woman should never take any vitamin supplements
without consulting her health care provider.
Disclaimer: This information is intended as a guide only. This information is offered to you with the
understanding that it not be interpreted as medical or professional advice. All
medical information needs to be carefully reviewed with your health care
provider.
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