When did doctors change their minds about pregnant ladies eating liver?

Question

When I was pregnant eleven years ago, the doctor said I SHOULD eat liver once a week. Now I see comments on here saying that pregnant ladies should not eat liver? When did they change their minds and why?

Answer 1

I don't think that they've actually changed their minds. They're just cautioning women to minimize their consumption of liver because liver is the only food that provides VERY high levels of Vitamin A. Yes, Vit A is needed for normal fetal growth and development, but not more than the RDA for pregnant women (2,565 IU).

Some studies suggest that high doses of Vitamin A causes birth defects. There was in study (in 1995) that found that women who took more than 10,000 IU (international units) of Vitamin A, which is nearly four time the Institute of Medicine's Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), daily in the first two months of pregnancy had more than double the risk of having a baby with birth defects.

The body also makes its own Vitamin A by consuming yellow and green vegetables (contains beta carotene).

Answer 2

I believe its because liver is so high in Vitamin A ... and too much Vitamin A causes birth defects and mental retardation early on in pregnancy.... I'm not entirely sure on that though... I *think* thats what I read a few months back.....

Yup... found it...
There is some concern about consuming liver during pregnancy. Liver is a good source of protein and is rich in certain vitamins and minerals. These include the B vitamin folic acid (which helps prevent certain birth defects), iron (which helps prevent anemia) and vitamin A (needed for normal fetal growth and development). However, in the case of vitamin A, liver may contain too much of a good thing.

Some studies suggest that high doses of vitamin A may cause birth defects. A 1995 study found that women who took more than 10,000 IU (international units) of vitamin A daily (nearly four times the Institute of Medicine’s Recommended Dietary Allowance [RDA] of 2,565 IU for pregnant women) in the first two months of pregnancy had more than double the risk of having a baby with birth defects.6 Other studies have suggested that doses under 25,000 IU daily probably do not cause birth defects, but the lowest dose that may cause birth defects is unknown.7

The body is able to make its own vitamin A, when needed, from substances such as beta carotene, which is found in yellow and green vegetables. This raw material for the vitamin is considered completely safe and healthy during pregnancy. However, much of the vitamin A we consume is the preformed vitamin (retinol) which, in excessive amounts, may cause birth defects. Preformed vitamin A is found in many vitamin supplements and some foods, including meats, eggs, dairy products and fortified breakfast cereals.

Liver is the only food that provides very high amounts of vitamin A. The amount of vitamin A found in liver varies. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a 3-ounce serving of beef liver may contain 30,000 IU; chicken liver, 14,000 IU; and canned chicken pate, 724 IU.8 A pregnant woman who eats liver regularly may consume enough vitamin A to pose a risk to her baby.

Answer 3

Honestly, I don't know why someone would want to eat liver pregnant or not. Think about how a liver functions in a body. All the toxins in your body go to your liver before they can be detoxified. Yuck.

Answer 4

I have never heard that pregnant women could not eat liver.

Answer 5

I have not heard of anything bad about liver from my dr. or anyone for that matter? You only hear about certain fishes and undercooked meats and eggs. Very interesting. Not that it matters too much for me, even though I like liver I just have not had it in years.

Answer 6

I never ate liver to begin with. I had never heard that either. I knew there were foods we are not supposed to eat lots of.

Answer 7

I don't know, that's silly !!
My SIL was told she shouldn't eat meat, coffee, chocolates, spicy food, there was a long list on what she couldn't eat.

If you ask me, that's silly stuff.
I don't know what's happening to doctors, but they seem very controlling over what a woman should do when she's pregnant, and what she should do with the baby.