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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Taking Vitamin A In Excess Cause Abnormality In The Fetus?

Hi, I need some advice please. Me and my partner are trying for our second baby and I am a bit worried as for the past 5 months I have been taking a few different vitamins all of which contain vitamin A, I ve read that excessive amounts of vitamin a can cause defects. I have been taking: * Omega three fish oil which contain 400mcg of vitamin A * centrum advanced multi vitamin which contain 800mcg of vitamin A * advanced nutrition programme skin accumax which contain 400mcg of vitamin a retinyl palmitate in every 2 capsules. I didn t realise how much vitamin a I was taking until I read the dosage after deciding to start trying, I have since cut out the omega fish oil and centrum advanced multi vitamin but have continued to take the skin accumax vitamins. I have to take 4 capsules a day of the skin accumax which is 800mcg of vitamin a retinyl palmitate a day I am a vegetarian so dont eat liver or other foods that provide high amounts of vitamin A. My concern is that I have got too much vitamin A in my system and it s going to cause problems. What are the chances of this from the vitamins I have been taking? The skin accumax also contain: * vitamin C 20mg per every 2 capsules * vitamin E 9. 8mg per every 2 capsules * diindolylmethane from bio response DIM 37.5mg per every 2 capsules * Phosphatidyl choline 9mg per every 2 capsules My question is are these skin accumax vitamins safe to take while trying for a baby and are these safe to take while pregnant? And what are the chances of me having high amounts of vitamin A in my system already and causing defects to a baby?
Tue, 4 Sep 2018
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Dietitian & Nutritionist,  's  Response
Hi,

I understand your concern regarding vitamin A and can concur that vitamin A in excess of 10000 IU per day in early prenatal period puts the fetus at risk for many deformities. This is equivalent to 3000 mcg/day of preformed vitamin A. You are taking about 1600 mcg per day from your combination of pills so you are still under the cut-off associated with severe birth defects.

My advice is to relax with regards to causing fetal harm to your baby while taking these supplements early on. You would be best,however, to forget the skin supplements and stick with your prenatal vitamins during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant since the prenatal contains a better array of nutrients to support a growing fetus. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin and can be stored in the body possibly leading to problems down the road.

Also, with regards to diindolylmethane, there is no evidence of effects during pregnancy but there is speculation that due to its strong interactions with the hormones estrogen and testosterone that the potential for fetal interactions is strong and care should be taken when supplementing with this compound during pregnancy.

In summary, if you can go without your skin vitamins and focus on prenatals that would be optimal for the pregnancy outcome as there are risks and unknowns with the skin supplements.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
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Does Taking Vitamin A In Excess Cause Abnormality In The Fetus?

Hi, I understand your concern regarding vitamin A and can concur that vitamin A in excess of 10000 IU per day in early prenatal period puts the fetus at risk for many deformities. This is equivalent to 3000 mcg/day of preformed vitamin A. You are taking about 1600 mcg per day from your combination of pills so you are still under the cut-off associated with severe birth defects. My advice is to relax with regards to causing fetal harm to your baby while taking these supplements early on. You would be best,however, to forget the skin supplements and stick with your prenatal vitamins during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant since the prenatal contains a better array of nutrients to support a growing fetus. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin and can be stored in the body possibly leading to problems down the road. Also, with regards to diindolylmethane, there is no evidence of effects during pregnancy but there is speculation that due to its strong interactions with the hormones estrogen and testosterone that the potential for fetal interactions is strong and care should be taken when supplementing with this compound during pregnancy. In summary, if you can go without your skin vitamins and focus on prenatals that would be optimal for the pregnancy outcome as there are risks and unknowns with the skin supplements. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.