The Myth of Vitamin A Toxicity in Pregnancy

www.nutritionaltherapy.co.nz

Emma leavens, Nutritional Therapist, currently 4ish months pregnant.

As a pregnant woman, I have been advised to avoid liver due to the high vitamin A content. As a Nutritional Therapist, who works with whole foods to bring about healing, I know this is another myth given to us by well educated, but misinformed nutrition and medical professionals. So if you’re pregnant and avoiding foods high in vitamin A, please read on…

The importance of vitamin A can not be underestimated, it is needed for the growth and repair of body tissues; it helps protect mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs; it prompts the secretion of gastric juices necessary for proper digestion of protein; it helps to build strong bones and teeth and rich blood; it is essential for good eyesight; it aids in the production of RNA; and contributes to the health of the immune system. Vitamin-A deficiency in pregnant mothers results in offspring with eye defects, displaced kidneys, harelip, cleft palate and abnormalities of the heart and larger blood vessels. Vitamin A stores are rapidly depleted during exercise, fever, PREGNANCY and periods of stress.

The only scientific studies ever done, which have concluded that vitamin A causes birth defects, have been on synthetic vitamins. There is a big difference between manufactured vitamin A in the form of retinol, found in supplements and added to fabricated foods, from natural vitamin A complex found in vitamin A containing whole foods. It is well known that synthetic vitamins are less biologically active, hence less effective, than naturally occurring vitamins. This is especially true of the fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, because these tend to be more complex molecules, with numerous double bonds and a multiplicity of forms. Natural vitamin A occurs as a mixture of wonderful things called isomers, aldehydes, esters, acids and alcohols, so the body can utilise it efficiently. Pure retinoic acid for example, a synthetic metabolite of vitamin A used to treat adult acne, is well known to cause birth defects.

Misplaced concern about vitamin A toxicity has led to advice to pregnant women being to avoid foods containing vitamin A, and parents to avoid giving cod liver oil to their babies. Yet earlier books on the feeding of pregnant women and infants recommended generous doses of cod liver oil, frequent liver consumption for pregnant women and two teaspoons of cod liver oil per day for babies three months and older. And if we could go back further in time, we would see that our ancestors ate what is known as a ‘primitive’ diet, they ate organ meats, such as liver, which not only contains the highest amount of folic acid compared to any other food, is also brimming with good fats, protein, iron and other B vitamins! In fact they ate ten times more vitamin A than we consume today, and generation after generation, they produced healthy, strong, happy offspring!

If you’re interested in reading more about vitamin A in pregnancy and early childhood, I strongly recommend you read this article.: www.westonaprice.org/Vitamin-A-Saga.html

Once you’re convinced and want to improve your health and that of your children, have a read of: http://editor.nourishedmagazine.com.au/articles/pregnancy-nutrition-for-making-strong-healthy-babies