Medical representatives raise an issue about Vitamin A when taken at larger dose it may cause cancer.I need more clarification on this issue.
so is there any cut value for this ......like more than xxx mcg / IU harmful to pregnant or xxx mcg /IU recommended especially when combined other essential drugs like folic acid ....
according to my knowledge in teratogenic drugs, vitamin A is contraindicated during pregnancy. would you please clarify this contradictory issue. thanks
One has to be very cautious with Vitamin A in pregnancy. All oral retinoids are teratogens.
yes Vitamin A is teratogenic in large doses more than 3000-4000 IU /day. therefore, its use shall be discouraged in pregnancy. We can recomend low doses. More, the deficincy of fat soluble vitamin is less as compared to watersoluble deficincy, beacause the Vita A, D,E and K are stored in liver and other tissues. we shall concentrate on other water soluble vitamines in pregnacy rather than specifically for Vit A. with regard to safety, yes we must be very anxious.
Vita A is metabolized to retinoic acid in the body and under normal physiological conditions growing embryo has different concentrations of retinoic acid which is responsible for the development of various components of brain. if this endogenous balance is disturbed by external supplementation it leads neurological complications in new born. even anti-acne ointments with retinoic acid shouldn't be used atleast 1 year prior pregnancy, as these ointments have long half life.
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