Evaluation of the effect of the use of vitamin supplements on vitamin A intake among (potentially) pregnant women in relation to the consumption of liver and liver products.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional dietary survey with simulation modeling
PubMed 8735753 · doi:10.1016/0301-2115(95)02375-5
What was done
Data from the 2nd Dutch national food consumption survey (1992) were evaluated to calculate dietary vitamin A intake via two-day dietary records in 1,725 non-pregnant women aged 16–50 and 58 pregnant women. Intake distributions were analyzed relative to liver consumption, and the nutritional adequacy and teratogenic risks of adding a simulated daily multivitamin supplement containing 1,200 Retinol Equivalents (RE) of vitamin A were modeled.
What was found
Average baseline vitamin A intake was 850 RE/day for non-pregnant women (RDA: 800 RE) and 990 RE/day for pregnant women (RDA: 1,000 RE). Among women who consumed liver on a survey day, 60% exceeded the safe upper intake limit of 3,000 RE/day, and 23% exceeded 7,500 RE/day. For those not consuming liver or liver products, average intakes were lower (540 RE in 1,472 non-pregnant; 720 RE in 46 pregnant women), with about 70% falling below the RDA. Adding a simulated daily 1,200 RE vitamin A supplement resulted in intakes above the RDA, with 2% of non-pregnant and 3% of pregnant women exceeding 3,000 RE/day, and none exceeding 7,500 RE/day.
Why it matters
This study shows that avoiding liver reduces the risk of excessive vitamin A intake but leaves most reproductive-age women below the RDA, a gap that can be safely closed with low-dose (1,200 RE) supplementation.
Limits
The pregnant subgroup was very small (n = 58). Intake was estimated using only two-day dietary records, which may not capture habitual intake of episodic foods like liver, and supplement effects were based on mathematical simulation rather than direct clinical trial data.
Cited by
- supports Eating liver is restricted during pregnancy because high levels of vitamin A can cause developmental harm to the fetus.