•The OC Pill and HRT
These cause a small,
probably insignificant, rise in serum retinol
•
•Pregnancy and Lactation Requirement Increases
The Reference Nutrient
Intake, rises from 600 ug/day to 700 ug and in lactation to 950 ug/day. A diet rich in dairy foods and vegetables should be emphasised
•
•Retinol is needed for growth and particularly in utero
and infancy for full lung and
kidney development. The full
consequences of deficiency in
the infant might only be observed later in adult life
•
•Pregnancy Safety
CMO (1990) and SACN
advise pregnant women to avoid liver and retinol supplements as an excess (3, 000 ug/day) can
cause limb deformity. Beta-carotene supplements are considered to
be safe.
•
•However the pattern of vitamin A intake has changed
dramatically