Why Having Eggs (Vitamin A) During Pregnancy Is DANGEROUS?

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is important for the development of various body organs in a baby such as the kidneys, eyes, heart, lungs, the nervous system and the circulatory system. Vitamin A also helps in the tissue repair in a pregnant woman after delivery of the baby. It also helps the body to fight against various infections and helps maintain a proper eyesight.

You must have heard a lot of information regarding the safety and many concerns of vitamin A during pregnancy. When it comes to pregnancy, a mother needs to think and be aware of the foods and vitamins that she is taking.

Even the foods and vitamins that seem to be safe can be harmful for your body or may cause a miscarriage. Thus, you need to have a proper information or you have to ask a doctor before taking any vitamins or vitamin-related foods. Here, we will help you today with vitamin A and foods containing vitamin A, and will answer the question, 'is vitamin A safe during pregnancy?

Scroll down to know if vitamin A is harmful during pregnancy, or if you can eat foods containing vitamin A during pregnancy, and more.

Is Vitamin A Harmful During Pregnancy?

A research has shown that consuming excessive amounts of vitamin A, during the early months of pregnancy, can cause serious birth defects in an unborn child such as malformations of the heart, brain, head and spinal cord.

How Much Of Vitamin A Is Safe During Pregnancy?

The recommended daily intake of vitamin A for a pregnant woman must not increase the value of 8,000 IU. Doses of vitamin A more than 10,000 IU can be harmful to an unborn baby.

Forms Of Vitamin A, And Which One Is Harmful During Pregnancy?

There are two types of vitamin A, one is beta-carotene and the other is retinoid. Beta-carotene is a water-soluble inactive form of vitamin A that can be obtained from plants. This form of vitamin A is not harmful during pregnancy.

Is The Other Form Harmful?

The other form of vitamin A is retinoid. It is a preformed vitamin A that comes from animals sources such as liver, egg yolks and dairy products. Excess of this vitamin A can cause serious damages in an unborn baby. Vitamin A supplements in the form of tablets, capsules or liquid are also harmful during pregnancy.

Which Is The Safe Form Of Vitamin A During Pregnancy?

The food and drug administration (FDA ) has recommended that pregnant women obtain vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene. This means, vitamin A from plant sources is less toxic during pregnancy. Beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A in the body. If you are planning to conceive or have conceived, it is safe to take vitamin A from plant sources (fruits and vegetables).

Is Taking Too Little Of Vitamin A Helpful?

Now that you know that excess amount of vitamin A is harmful during pregnancy, you should not do the mistake of avoiding it completely. Lack of vitamin A during pregnancy can cause the same effects in an unborn baby, as the excess of vitamin A does to the body. Therefore, you must take it in proper amounts.

Should Liver And Other Animal Sources Of Vitamin A Be Avoided?

Avoid eating excess of animal sources of vitamin A such as liver, egg yolks and dairy products during pregnancy, as they contain the preformed source of vitamin A known as retinoid.