Vitamin A is a necessary
nutrient during pregnancy that contributes to your health and the development
of the fetus; however, like many vitamins, it can be dangerous to consume too
much of it. It is important to know how much vitamin A you need and how to
avoid consuming unsafe amounts in order to have a healthy pregnancy.
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Importance of Vitamin A
During pregnancy, vitamin A
helps the development of the fetus' heart, kidneys, lungs, eyes and bones. It
also helps the circulatory, respiratory and central nervous systems develop
properly. Vitamin A can contribute to your postpartum tissue repair. Symptoms
of a vitamin A deficiency include impaired night vision and a weakened immune
system.
Recommended Amount
During pregnancy, you need
about 770 mcg of vitamin A each day. Instead of focusing on that exact amount
each day, Babycenter states that you can aim for the average recommended daily
amount over the course of a week. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements,
it is not safe to consume more than 3,000 mcg of vitamin A in one day.
Overdose
Consuming too much vitamin
A can result in liver toxicity. Overdose symptoms include headache, nausea,
vomiting, drowsiness and blurred vision. According to the American Pregnancy
Association, consuming too much vitamin A during the first trimester has been
linked to birth defects such as nerve abnormalities.
Sources
Sources of vitamin A
include leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, fish, eggs and fortified
cereals. One cup of spinach has 141 mcg and 1 cup of cantaloupe has 270 mcg of
vitamin A. Liver is one of the highest sources of vitamin A . Just one 3 oz.
serving of liver can have more than 12 times the recommended daily amount of
vitamin A, so you may want to avoid it to keep from getting too much.
http://www.livestrong.com