On the other hand, beta carotene, a substance found naturally in plants and which the body converts to vitamin A, is considerably less toxic. Women of childbearing age are advised to choose fortified foods that contain vitamin A in the form of beta carotene rather than preformed vitamin A, whenever possible. The vitamin A in fruits and vegetables is naturally in the form of beta carotene, and high intakes of vitamin A from these sources is generally not of concern. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient and, as with all nutrients, the good health of women throughout childbearing years, including pregnancy, depends on consuming appropriate amounts. A relationship between vitamin A intakes and birth defects has been known for some time, but the level of vitamin A-associated birth defects in earlier studies was much higher.
American diets come up particularly short in the vegetable and fruit groups.
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