Vitamin A

  I am preparing my body for pregnancy, and my GP said I had too much
  vitamin A in my supplements.  I take a multipack of 7 vitamins every day.
  The breakdown of vitamin A is 50% Beta Carotene and 50% as Vitamin A
  Palmitate for a total of 12,000 units.  My doctor says that I should only
  have a maximum of 5,000 units and this can be harmful, but could not give
  any details as to what harm too much vitamin A can cause, can you?
Dear Tricia:
A database name Reprotox identifies the evidence for and against toxicity associated with use of Vitamin A in pregnancy. At doses above 6000 IU daily, some authors have reported congenital anomalies involving the central nerous system, heart, face, palate, ears, limbs, urinary system, and behavioral problems in children.
In rabbit embryos and according to William's Textbook of Obstetrics, in humans, vitamin A levels in the blood of babies is higher than that in the blood of mother: that means that babies can concentrate his vitamin because it is tranferred preferrentially from mother to baby.
Keywords: Vitamin A
This information is provided for eduction purposes only and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please contact your physician.