Chrome 2001
.
Aetna Intelihealth InteliHealth Aetna Intelihealth Aetna Intelihealth
 
     
.
. .
.
Home
Health Commentaries
InteliHealth Dental
Drug Resource Center
Ask the Expert
Interactive Tools
Todays News
InteliHealth Policies
Site Map

   Advertisement
Mindbloom Ad .
Diseases & Conditions Healthy Lifestyle Your Health Look It Up
Pregnancy Pregnancy
.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy
Is it safe to take cod liver oil during pregnancy?
.
Ask The Expert
Harvard Medical School
.
Image of a cadeusus
. .
General Medical Questions
.
Q: Is it safe to take cod liver oil during pregnancy?
.
.
.
The Trusted Source
.
.
Howard LeWine, M.D.

Howard LeWine, M.D., is chief editor of Internet Publishing, Harvard Health Publications. He is a clinical instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. LeWine has been a primary care internist and teacher of internal medicine since 1978.

.
.
April 30, 2012
.
A:

Yes, a small amount of cod liver oil is safe.

But you need to be careful. Cod liver oil is rich in vitamin A. And too much vitamin A can be harmful to you and your baby.

The recommended amount of vitamin A for pregnant women is about 7,500 units or 750 micrograms of vitamin A. Twice that much should be okay. But there is no evidence to suggest that a greater intake of vitamin A is better than what is recommended.

If you already take a prenatal vitamin and eat a balanced diet, you are getting enough vitamin A. If you still wanted to take cod liver oil in liquid or capsule form, be sure to read the vitamin A dosage on the product label. Some companies add extra vitamin A and other vitamins to cod liver oil and cod liver capsules.

By the way: if you were considering cod liver oil as a way to get more vitamin D, then just take a plain vitamin D supplement instead. An example is a daily 1,000 IU vitamin D3 supplement.

.
.
InteliHealth
.
Ask A Question
.
.
InteliHealth
Do You Have A Question?
.
. . .
.
Ask The Expert Archives
Topics
.
InteliHealth
.
InteliHealth

   
.
.  
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.
.
Chrome 2001
Chrome 2001