Ask Dr Miriam

Q I’m pregnant and I’ve been told not to eat too much liver. Why is this? A It’s down to vitamin A. Having more than 1.5mg a day from foods and supplements over a long period may weaken your bones.

Because liver contains lots of vitamin A, eating it more than once a week could push you over this limit.

In pregnancy too much vitamin A can harm an unborn baby so pregnant women should avoid liver and supplements such as multivitamins containing vitamin A. On the other hand, vitamin A is essential for good eyesight and it helps to fight infections by maintaining the integrity of the linings of the nose, throat and lungs. It also contributes to skin health. The body absorbs vitamin A directly from liver, eggs, oily fish, fortified spreads and cheese. Betacarotene, the orange pigment in carrots, mangoes, apricots, sweet potatoes and dark green vegetables, is converted into vitamin A by the body if stores are low.