Birth Defect News

Moderate Doses of Vitamin A Do Not Pose Risk of Birth Defects

Contrary to what many researchers had feared, doses of vitamin A commonly taken during pregnancy do not increase the chances that a woman will have a child with a birth defect, according to a study conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

Specifically, the study found that taking daily doses of between 8,000 and 10,000 International Units (I.U.) of vitamin A during pregnancy does not appear to cause birth defects. The study also showed that it is very rare for women to take more than 10,000 I.U. of the vitamin each day. Although this finding indicates that few women are taking doses that potentially could increase the risk of birth defects, the small number of women in this group limited the study's ability to determine if such high doses do indeed cause birth defects.

The study appears in the July issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
"There is no reason for women to take more than the Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin A," said the study's principal investigator, James Mills, Chief of NICHD's Pediatric Epidemiology Section. "But this study suggests that the larger doses that some women take during pregnancy is not likely to cause any problems."
The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamin A is 2,670 International Units. Dr. Mills explained that some women may consume between 8,000 and 10,000 IU of vitamin A (roughly triple the RDA), by taking vitamin pills and perhaps eating vitamin A fortified cereal as well.

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	Did You Know?
	Information Is Available On Birth Defects If your child has a birth defect, you should ask his or her doctor about local resources and treatment. Geneticists and genetic counselors are another resource. CDC can give you general information about birth defects. For other birth defects, you may contact one of many national groups. These groups have fact sheets or brochures or can direct you to support groups, where you can meet and talk with other parents of children with the same type of birth defect. Many support groups also have brochures and books to help you learn more about birth defects.