Albania
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Montenegro
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Spain
Kosovo
Lithuania
Latvia
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Germany
Polska
Portugal
Romania
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Switzerland
Sweden
Turkey
Ukraine
Hungary
United Kingdom
Italy
UAE
Hong Kong
Kuwait
Lebanon
South Africa
Liver, still popular in Polish cuisine, is considered one of the sources of folate. Although essential during pregnancy, liver is discouraged for moms-to-be. Why? What does liver contain and what risks to the fetus may be associated with an excess of liver in a pregnant woman's diet?
Liver-what does it contain?
Liver is a rich source of B vitamins and iron. It contains large amounts of folic acid. It is believed that consumption of liver may protect against the development of, among other things. anemia. Unfortunately, liver also contains very high amounts of vitamin A. These exceed the safe and acceptable daily standards for pregnant women. For this reason, liver should not be consumed by expectant mothers. Vitamin A, on the other hand, can be supplied in safe doses in the daily diet by means of, among other things. dairy.
Liver in pregnancy-is it safe?
Vitamin A is considered a teratogen that causes birth defects in children. The amount of vitamin A contained in liver exceeds the daily safe standards for moms-to-be. For the duration of pregnancy, therefore, the presence of these offal products in the diet should be abandoned.
Liver in pregnancy- danger to the fetus
Liver should not be consumed during pregnancy because of the dangers that too high a concentration of vitamin A (consumption of more than 15,000 IU per day) may carry in the body of the mother-to-be. In particular, they are related to the effects of retinol on the development of neural crest tissues in the child. The first 60 days after conception are considered the most dangerous period. Excess vitamin A can lead to the development of congenital defects of the nervous system, heart, and even accutane miscarriage.
Teratogens
Teratogens, in addition to vitamin A and its derivatives, include antibiotics such as tetracyclines and aminoglycosides. They can cause hearing damage or interfere with the development of the cartilaginous system. Anti-epileptic drugs such as valproic acid, on the other hand, can lead to spina bifida. Teratogens also include anthracyclines or thalidomide, as well as methotrexate. The list is much longer, so you should consult your doctor before taking the drug during pregnancy and not use the treatment on your own.
Read more:
Which drugs are safe during pregnancy?
Bibliography:
Bastos Maia S, Rolland Souza AS, Costa Caminha MF, Lins da Silva S, Callou Cruz RSBL, Carvalho Dos Santos C, Batista Filho M. Vitamin A and Pregnancy: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2019 Mar 22;11(3):681. doi: 10.3390/nu11030681. PMID: 30909386; PMCID: PMC6470929.
Rate this article:
