Norwegian study links low vitamin A in pregnancy to higher birth weight

A study conducted in Norway has identified a clear correlation between low levels of vitamin A in pregnant women during the final stages of pregnancy and significantly higher birth weights in their infants.

The research examined 723 women with normal pregnancies, finding that 43 percent had low vitamin A levels. Researchers noted that while a connection exists, they cannot definitively state that low vitamin A causes high birth weight. Babies weighing over 4 kilograms are classified as having high birth weight, which can increase the likelihood of developing obesity later in life.

Kamilla Stunes, a researcher at NTNU and TkMidt, noted that while excessive vitamin A can cause fetal malformations and severe deficiency can lead to blindness, such extremes are rare in Norway. She emphasized that following Norwegian dietary guidelines typically ensures sufficient vitamin A intake.