Preformed vit A (retinol)Nutrition library
Preformed vit A (retinol)
Preformed vitamin A only — scored against the teratogen ceiling (not an adequacy floor). Total vitamin A status is tracked separately as Vitamin A (RAE).
Trimester focus
| Stage | For the mother | For the baby |
|---|---|---|
| First trimester | Needs are modest; this is the highest-risk window if the ceiling is exceeded. | Drives early eye, heart and limb-bud differentiation — excess here is the gravest risk. |
| Second trimester | Needs rise slightly; the ceiling is unchanged. | Continues supporting organ maturation and immune-system development. |
| Third trimester | Demand peaks as the fetus builds its own vitamin-A stores. | Builds liver reserves of vitamin A to carry into infancy. |
Target note
Ceiling applies to preformed retinol only (age-aware UL). Beta-carotene does NOT count against it. Adequacy uses Vitamin A (RAE).