Pre-natal Vitamins - Vitamin A

[JessieMcJessie]

DH and I discussing TTC and while we haven't made a decision yet, I thought I might as well get on with the folic acid. I couldn't find plain FA in any pharmacy near me (I live in Asia) and ended up with a US brand women-specific multivitamin that contains 400 micrograms of folic acid and also the recommended 10 mgs of vitamin D.

However it also contains "5625IU" of Vitamin A (acetate) and I've now read the NHS guidance that says no Vitamin A during pregnancy! My question is, would taking vitamin A now be building up problems for a potential pregnancy in 2-3 months time, or would it be OK as long as I stop taking it as soon as we start TTC (by which time I'll have been back to the UK and stocked up in Boots)?

[vvviola]

I've never heard of avoiding vitamin A while TTC, only while actually pregnant (and I have a feeling it's avoid high levels of vit A - so no supplements or, I think, liver - rather than trying to avoid it in food etc).

Does the body store vitamin A? If not, then I can't see that it would be a problem.

[PacificDogwood]

The body does store Vit A (it's fat soluble), but AFAIK a 'normal' multivitamin should be fine until you TTC as long as your contraception is iron-clad.

Having said that, it does not do any harm to start taking a pregnancy multivitamin (with the recommended levels of folic acid and Vitamin D) 2-3 months before TTC.

[JessieMcJessie]

Hmm, good point- just googled "does the body store Vitamin A?" and apparently it stores up to 2 years' worth in the liver! Maybe it automatically regulates though, so as not to store more than needed. Need to google more...

[JessieMcJessie]

Cross post PD. Thanks. I did see one pregnancy multivit but it was extortionately priced and thought maybe not right for TTC anyway.

[vvviola]

I did a bit of googling (sitting in the dark with my phone waiting for DD2 to go to sleep) and it seems that the concern is more along the lines of vitamin A in acne medication etc, so much higher than a standard dose even in a multivitamin.

[PacificDogwood]

No, that's the kind you need - I know the prices are extortion!

There is no evidence that I know of that an expensive pre-pregnancy multivitamin, followed by an equally expensive pregnancy, followed by a dear post-natal/BFing MV makes any difference to pregnancy outcomes.

You must take Folic acid (400micrograms normally) and Vitamin D is recommended. Both are available individually for pennies.

The expensive stuff is convenient, but that's the only way in which it is superior for most people. The rest is marketing and making a profit on the back of women's fear of anything going wrong with their pregnancy

[JessieMcJessie]

Thanks PD, just to be clear, I can't find the folic acid and the Vit D here where I live unless I either take a multivit with Vit A in it, or pay the equivalent of 35 quid for 30 tablets (no kidding!).

[PacificDogwood]

How about Amazon? They deliver to most places around the world (or so it seems).

And what do TTC/pregnant women DO wherever you are? Where are you?

[JessieMcJessie]

Amazon deliver here (Hong Kong) but only books, DVDs, clothes, toys etc - it's very hard to get any health or beauty products delivered internationally.

Update: I eventually found 500 microgram folic acid tablets (as well as 5mg ones available without prescription, on the shelf next to them- almost bought the wrong ones!) and separate Vitamin D3, so those will do for now. The folic acid was the equivalent of 12 quid for 90 - in Boots they are 1.99! I also found some prenatal vitamins made by a Canadian company called Wyeth and pregnancy ones called e-vit, but both contained Vitamin A (palmitate). All very confusing - I guess there must be conflicting views on Vitamin A? I have a healthy diet so seems safer not to take it.

[Rufus200]

I was googling this myself yesterday. Your growing baby needs Vit A for eye development. In the USA all prenatal Vits have added Vit A. While high doses of Vit A can cause foetal abnormality so can Vit A deficiency.

You aren't recommended to take more then 8,000-10,000IU per day (depending on different studies) of Vit A when pregnant in first trimester, including food intake and supplements.