Vitamin A and Reproductive Health: Crucial Role in Embryonic Development

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient that plays a central role in adult fertility as well as in the development of a growing embryo. Insufficient levels of vitamin A during pregnancy can result in a variety of birth defects.

Function

• Adequate levels of Vitamin A are required for fertility and reproduction to occur. After conception, vitamin A regulates the timing for embryonic cells to mature, becoming specialized organ cells.

Chemical Properties

• Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it is easily absorbed by the body but difficult to eliminate if too much is ingested. Beta-carotene, also known as pro-vitamin A, is water soluble and is easily eliminated. Once ingested, the body converts two beta-carotene molecules into one fully formed vitamin A molecule.

Nutritional Sources

• Vitamin A can be found in a variety of food sources, such as darkly colored fruits and vegetables, beef, poultry, eggs and dairy products. Animal products contain vitamin A in its fully formed state, while fruits and vegetables are sources of beta-carotene.

Recommended Intake

• The US recommended dietary allowance (USRDA) of Vitamin A for pregnant women is 770 micrograms, or 2565 international units (IU).

Warning

• Although adequate intake of Vitamin A is required for normal embryonic development and growth, too much fully formed vitamin A taken during pregnancy is known to cause birth defects. For this reason, prenatal vitamins containing more than 1,500 micrograms (5,000 IU) of vitamin A are not recommended.