The Importance Of Vitamin A In Children And Pregnant Women – You Are Parents

Food is one of the fundamental pillars at all stages of life. In addition, each of these is characterized by the importance of certain nutrients. This is what happens with vitamin A in children and pregnant women.

Do you know why it is so necessary or what are the risks of taking it beyond the recommended amount?

The first thing you need to know is that it is fat soluble so that  it accumulates in the fatty tissue of the body and the liver and only 5-20% is excreted. 

It is also fairly easy to meet your needs through food as the recommended doses are 400-600 micrograms for children and 770 micrograms for pregnant women.

It is found in red and orange fruits and vegetables, dairy products and egg yolks. Another source is cod liver oil, but in amounts well above the benchmark daily intake.

Did you know that, among its functions, we find cell differentiation, in addition to the fact that it allows to maintain a good vision and a healthy immune system? Stay tuned because we will tell you more about it in the next few lines.

Why is vitamin A important in children and pregnant women?

On the one hand, having good levels of this vitamin prevents vision problems. In addition, by including it in the diet,  it reduces the risk of night blindness in pregnant women.

On the other hand, it reduces the risk of infections, diarrhea and measles in children with low levels. It is important to take into account that 48 hours after taking vitamin A, you may experience vomiting and nausea.

Another of the effects on the sight is the appearance of xerophthalmia in the event of deficit. It is characterized by dry eyes and opacity of the cornea.

It should be noted here that it is not recommended to take it in high doses in order to avoid infant morbidity and mortality. It also protects the skin and digestive mucous membranes against their degeneration or attack by viruses  and promotes bone growth. It even keeps them well hydrated because it stimulates the secretion of mucus.

Finally, it acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which means that it decreases the relapses of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or colitis.

The dangers of supplementation during pregnancy

Vitamin A deficiency is rare, except in underdeveloped countries like India or South Africa, among others. Moreover, since it is a fat soluble vitamin, it accumulates in the body: taking it is contraindicated if you have normal values.

The main reason is that it produces teratogenic effects on the unborn baby. It presents itself through malformations, especially in the skull which does not close and leaves parts of the brain unprotected.

Vitamin A also leads to abortions, damage to the heart and to the central nervous system. This is why the World Health Organization (WHO) only recommends vitamin A supplementation during pregnancy in countries where the deficit is a public health problem.

It is important that you know that these disorders are irreversible. It should also be assessed whether there is a secondary deficiency due to poor absorption of fat.

Another side effect is the increased risk of developing asthma in children if the recommended daily intake of this vitamin is exceeded 2.5 times. This was seen in a Norwegian cohort study.

Low levels of this vitamin have also been found in children with asthma, although it is not yet known whether this is a cause or a consequence.

How to incorporate vitamin A in children and pregnant women?

As you can see, vitamin A is fundamental for the proper development of children, as well as for the defenses and the sense of sight.

It is important to  eat at least one serving of raw fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes or carrots, every day. Take advantage of the fall to prepare delicious pumpkin and sweet potato creams.

Remember to season them with virgin olive oil so that vitamin A is absorbed better. Preparing fried vegetables or tomato sauce is also a good idea, as the availability of vitamin A increases with heat.

In summary, avoid taking vitamin A supplements without consulting a doctor. The latter will assess you and your children and establish the dose of the supplement if necessary.