[Regular vitamin A supplements are safe for pregnant women who consume few liver products].

OBJECTIVE

To determine how much vitamin A is consumed through liver and liver products by non-pregnant and pregnant women aged 16-50 years, and to determine the implications for the use of multivitamin products.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis on data from representative database Dutch National Food Consumption Survey.

METHOD

Data were obtained from a Dutch National Food Consumption Survey (1992, method published earlier) regarding 1725 non-pregnant and 58 pregnant women aged 16-50 years who did or did not consume liver and (or) liver products.

RESULTS

Average daily vitamin A intake (two consecutive days), was 850 retinol equivalents (RE) for non-pregnant and 990 RE for pregnant women, respectively (recommended daily allowances are 800 RE and 1000 RE). Average intakes of those not eating liver or liver products were 540 RE and 720 RE per day. In about 70% and 50% of the women respectively the intake was below the minimal requirement of 600 RE per day. The use of a vitamin A supplement providing 1200 RE per day among the non-liver users would in none of the cases have resulted in intakes higher than the threshold level of 7500 RE for teratogenic risks. Occasionally in 2-3% of the women, not using liver or liver products, maximum intake would exceed 3000 RE per day (the upper safe limit of intake according to the Dutch Health Council/Nutrition Council Committee). However, women using liver or liver products would be at risk of having too high intakes, above the threshold level of 7500 RE, irrespective of the use of vitamin supplements.

CONCLUSION

Regular vitamin A supplements may be safely used by pregnant women who consume little or no liver or liver products.