Vitamins alert for pregnant women

Colin Blackstock, "Vitamins alert for pregnant women", Guardian, July
20, 2005,
Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...532030,00.html

Pregnant women should avoid taking multi-vitamins unless they are
certain that the supplement does not contain vitamin A, because of the
risk of damage to the unborn child, according to a study.

Trading standards watchdogs and the charity BDF (Birth Defects
Foundation) Newlife found that a third of all multi-vitamin suppliers
do not label their products with warnings that they contain vitamin A,
which can damage foetuses.

They are concerned that women who are pregnant or are planning to be
could be misled by inadequate labelling.

Vitamin A, present in liver, has been shown to damage the development
of cells in foetuses, leading to conditions like spina bifida,
hydrocephalus and urinary tract malformations.

BDF Newlife's chief executive, Sheila Brown, said: "Our big message to
women of child-bearing age is to look at the packet and to avoid
vitamin A. Lots of products do not have warnings and they should have."

The damage is usually done in the first few days or weeks of a
pregnancy.

Mrs Brown said she asked trading standards officers to investigate
after a pregnant woman contacted BDF New-life. Her doctor had pointed
out that the multi-vitamin supplement she was taking contained vitamin
A. The product did not carry any warning.

Nigel Strick, head of Oxfordshire trading standards, said that between
November last year and March this year, 20 out of 60 multi-vitamin
products were found to be without vitamin A warnings. They included big
brands like Sanatogen, Centrum and Quest. Boots and Tesco products did
carry warnings.

Mr Strick said: "People are suing tobacco firms these days so it is not
inconceivable that mothers may sue a manufacturer for not labelling its
products."

He added that if manufacturers dragged their feet in agreeing to label
products, legislation would be sought to "tighten up" the industry.

Bayer Healthcare, which owns the Sanatogen brand, said that a number of
their multi-vitamin products, those not specifically targeted at
pregnant women, "currently do not contain a specific warning regarding
vitamin A".

It added: "Bayer Consumer Care agrees with the report that good
labelling for all vitamin products is essential, whether these are
general vitamins or those specifically marketed at pregnant women."

PAGB, the trade association representing manufacturers of
over-the-counter medicines and food supplements, said: "Our member
companies are waiting for Europe to announce recommendations for
labelling and usage of vitamin A in food supplements."