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ASK BONNIE for May 2004

Question #1:

Is it true that Pre-natal vitamins should not have more than 5000IU of retinyl acetate but you could take 8000 vitamin A units if 4000 is beta carotene and 4000 retinyl acetate?

Answer #1:

The retinyl acetate you're referring also comes in the forms retinol or palmitate, the potentially toxic forms of vitamin A (however, not one study has ever shown harm in amounts less than 10,000IU). 5000IU for a Prenatal is fine. The remaining precursor of Vitamin A comes from beta carotene. This will only convert to useable vitamin A if your body is deficient in it. Beta carotene is nontoxic, even at very high doses. For example, a large sweet potato contains 40,000IU of beta carotene!
Have a happy, healthy day.

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