Vitamin A Indicted As Being Linked To Birth Defects

Every pregnant woman has a heightened sense of awareness with respect to the substances she permits to enter her body. Suddenly prescription drugs are scrutinized, certain foods are off limits, and off course the consumption of over the counter medications is heavily curtailed. Yet there are times when warnings seem to come out of left field and may actually showcase that something which was being done to benefit the growing fetus turns out to have potentially harmful and far reaching consequences that were not anticipated by the mother to be or her physician.

Such an event occurred more than 10 years ago when women who sought to give their unborn children a good start in life by supplementing vitamin intake with over the counter prenatal formulas and also vitamin rich foods were warned about the potential for risking birth defects. Vitamin A was indicted as being linked to birth defects and the resulting frustration and in some cases downright panic called for a quick clarification of the statements made by officials and the media alike. Since then, the events that happened that long ago are largely forgotten, but the reality of an over-supplementation of Vitamin A still exists.

To ensure that you and your unborn child's health are guarded, here are the facts about Vitamin A and its relationship to birth defects you must have:

* Birth defects caused by an overdose of vitamin A are described as primarily affecting the head and brain, such as mental retardation, microcephaly and hydrocephaly, and the external appearance of the child facial features, such as deformities of the ears, eyes, and palate. Other birth defects linked to vitamin A over-supplementation are heart problems and to a lesser extent spinal cord malformations.

* Not all vitamin A is dangerous, but only the kind that is termed as being "pre-formed" or synthetic. This kind of vitamin A may actually be added to certain foods as enrichment and is almost always notated on the list of ingredients as retinyl acetate or retinyl palmitate. It is also naturally found in organ meat, with the highest concentration being located in the animal's liver.

* The safe kind of vitamin A is called beta-carotene and is primarily found in vegetables and fruits. While a high intake of even beta-carotene is not suggested, there are no known dangers associated with overdosing on beta-carotene.

* In spite of the findings that indicate dangers of vitamin A over-supplementation, the Federal Government has pointed out the body's vital need for both kinds of the vitamin to further many bodily functions, including the overall health of the reproductive system.

* It is strongly suggested that pregnant women severely limit, or completely pause, their intake of animal organ meats. Furthermore, when taking prenatal vitamins, look for those that do not contain and overage of the synthetic vitamin A. By and large, a pregnant woman in good health should not consume more than 8,000 IUs. If at all possible, look for supplements that offer vitamin A in the form of beta carotene.

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