Vitamin A confusion

[KirstyinNorway]

Hello Mumsnetters, brand new here as my husband and I just began TTC. I'm Scottish but currently live in Norway and pregnancy vitamins are quite different here to UK. The ones I was just recommended at the pharmacy (and bought) contain Vitamin A. I've now read that the NHS recommends no added Vitamin A during pregnancy.

The dose is 25% of my RDA and contains RE (which according to the NHS is the bad kind, I think?)

I've just spent the equivalent of about £25 on these tablets - a 30 day course - and don't want to waste the money by chucking them if I'm being silly/over sensitive.

What are your thoughts? I've only taken the first day without realising the contradictory advice. I'll bin them if you guys think I should (can't return with one day eaten!) and I don't think I can argue my way to a refund with the pharmacy as no such Vitamin A advice seems to exist here. Is this a UK thing?

[Jellybabie3]

I have no idea how much science is behind it all but i have definately been advised to not take vitamin A

[InTheDessert]

I think it is more that overdosing on retinol during pregnancy can be problematic. You become less efficient at absorbing beta carotene as you approach unsafe limits, making it much harder to overdose.
So, how great is your diet? How much retinol and beta carotene do you think you are getting in total?

The Norwegians wouldn't be handing them out if they believed there was an issue. My prenatal multivitamins from the UK had beta carotene in them 5 years ago. If in doubt, why not take every other day to lower the total vit A you are consuming.

Congrats on your pregnancy, and welcome to the world of conflicting information - multiplied dramatically when you add in different customs from round the world.

[emwithme]

I actually spoke to a pharmacist about this (DH and I are also about to TTC) and he said that a "standard" multivitamin with vitamin A in is fine, just don't take a specific vitamin A supplement while TTC or pregnant - so I'm carrying on with my usual (Asda - 90 days for about £3) multivitamin plus a folic acid supplement (90 days for £1) - far cheaper than one of the specialist "TTC" vitamin supplements.

[Jellybabie3]

Sorry i should have said i am taking calcium vitamin d and folic

[KirstyinNorway]

Thanks for the super speedy responses ladies. No clue how much beta-carotene/retinol I'm getting at present. I have a varied and (I like to think) healthy diet, and never buy ready-made meals - mainly as they don't really exist over here and the ones that do cost the earth! I'll look into what I think I might be eating now.

Good point that the Norwegians wouldn't be selling something they thought was bad, but I do like the idea of just having a dose every two days until this course finishes.

Jealous of Asda prices, next visit "home" I'll try and pick some up.

Thanks again all.