Vitamin A; pregnancy vitamins; Betacarotene...? Oooooooh! So confused!

[Indadhanu]

Ok, I'm confused.

Someone told me that under no circumstances should someone who is pregnant take a supplement with vitamin A in it, as it can cause birth abnormalities and defects.

Ok, cool, got that.

So I just googled it... and found out that betacarotene gets converted into vitamin A in the body.

Soooo, should my supplement not have betacarotene in it?

It does have it in it... should I stop taking it? I'm so confused by all the pregnancy supplements/vitamins, what they should and shouldn't have. The nurse at the clinic said they should all be fine, but i am wondering if they are.

I am not PG yet, first try TTC this cycle, so i bought the cheaper vitamins (just made sure it had enough folate). Should I switch to a more well known brand? I bought the cheaper one because I thought they'd just all be the same! Are the more expensive ones better?

Oh so confused! Anyone?

[Beach Mama]

I would check with someone but Im pretty sure that Vit A that is betacaratone - like from carrots or in fruit juice is fine. I think its a problem is you are taking just Vitamin A suppliments. If your multi vitamin is a pregnancy one it should be fine regardless of whether its cheap or not but if you want to check - compare the amounts of folate etc in it to other ones.

I got really confused with this too because I was drinking heaps of V8 fruit juice and it has Vit A in it, but pretty sure when i researched it that it was fine.
Good luck TTC!

[Karina]

I also heard the same thing!! So I just took a pregnancy vitamin supplement (the Blackmores one) as I figured it *shouldnt* have anything bad for my baby in it!

When we were TTC I was just taking a "womens daily multi vitamin". I cant even remember which one, but it was one with Folate (and other stuff) but without Vitamin A. I just bought the cheapest one that I could find in the chemist because I am stingy!

[Lucy]

The vitamin A that you need to be cautious of is animal derived vitamin a, (found in high does of food such as liver) rather than plant derived.

Plant derived vitamin A, through a multi vitamin or through food, is fine.

There have been recent studies where this definition has been clarified. If anyone wants the links, please let me know.

A quick quote from a recent study, if it helps put your mind at ease, is this:

Supplements that contain high levels of beta carotene should not pose a problem with respect to birth defects, nor should high levels of beta carotene in the diet.

HTH. I know it is confusing!

[ej_1974]

Yes that's a funny one isn't it. Basically, Vitamin A in high doses is bad for Pg women but is particularly bad around the TTC time or first trimester. High levels of vit A increases the chance of birth defects. Beta-Carotine - that is found in Tomatoes, or Carrots is converted into Vitamin A in the body - it does increase the chace of birth defects.

I Take Elevit - it is most exp one but nothing compared to the cost of raising children haha and i think it is the best one. Well in theory anyway but see what works for you. I have taken it both pg and it is great. My OB recommended it.I'd try Elevit or talk to you OB

Good Luck!