Vitamin A is a type of fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the liver. It is commonly known as retinoids and includes retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and retinyl ester. Some forms are consumed as oral medications, while others are applied topically as ointments or creams. Vitamin A can naturally be found in various everyday foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and fish. However, if the diet does not meet the vitamin A requirement, supplements can also be used.

Benefits of vitamin A for pregnant women

In general, vitamin A is known to play a crucial role in the body, such as maintaining healthy vision and ensuring the immune system and organs function properly.

For the fetus, vitamin A helps in the growth and development of internal organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes, and bones. It also benefits the circulatory system, respiratory system, and nervous system of the fetus.

For pregnant women, vitamin A is important for tissue repair after childbirth, fighting infections, supporting the immune system, and aiding in fat metabolism.

Vitamin A requirement during pregnancy

The daily vitamin A requirements for men and women can differ. Typically, adult men need 900 mcg of vitamin A per day, while adult women need 700 mcg per day. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the vitamin A requirement for women increases as follows:

• Pregnant women aged ≤18 years need 750 mcg of vitamin A per day.
• Pregnant women aged ≥19 years need 770 mcg of vitamin A per day.
• Breastfeeding mothers aged ≤18 years need 1200 mcg of vitamin A per day.
• Breastfeeding mothers aged ≥19 years need 1300 mcg of vitamin A per day.

Risks of consuming too much vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin stored in the liver. It should be consumed according to the daily nutritional requirements, neither less nor more. Excessive consumption of vitamin A can lead to symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, headaches, and pain, and in severe cases, it can result in death. Excess vitamin A accumulates in the liver and can cause liver damage.

If pregnant women consume too much vitamin A, they risk liver damage and an increased risk of birth defects in the fetus. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a doctor before taking any supplements or medications containing vitamin A so that the doctor can recommend the appropriate prenatal vitamins and determine a safe dosage during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

It should be noted that the risk of birth defects also increases if you consume high-dose vitamin A medications before pregnancy, which usually contain isotretinoin, retinol, and retin-A used in skin care products.

During pregnancy, you may not need to take vitamin A supplements, as you can meet your daily needs by consuming foods such as broccoli, eggs, fortified cereals, bell peppers, mangoes, melons, milk, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, and others. Discuss further with your obstetrician if you have any concerns about vitamin A.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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