Red flag

When it comes to getting the nutrition they and their unborn babies need, pregnant women are between a rock and a hard place. For example, they need ample omega-3 fatty acids to ensure that their babies' brains develop properly, but they're not supposed to eat fish. Then there's vitamin A: Developing fetuses need it for proper lung formation, but every source you read tells pregnant women to steer clear of too much for fear that very high levels will lead to birth defects.

All of these warnings -- not to mention all of the focus put on folic acid for preventing birth defects -- has overshadowed the need for vitamin A. And now more and more women and newborns are falling short in this nutrient.

Enter beta-carotene. It's the no-brainer solution to the vitamin A-requirement problem since the body safely converts it into this nutrient. Pregnant women should talk to their doctors about how much beta-carotene they should be taking each day.

In the meantime, keep in mind that as important as folic acid is, it's definitely not the only nutrient pregnant women need to keep themselves, and their babies, healthy.

Source:
"Expectant mothers may be at risk of vitamin A deficiency," NutraIngredients (www.nutraingredients.com), 12/5/06

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